Howdy all, as a person from California (homeowner only), I’ve never had to deal with steep roofs before. When I visit my mom in Maine and attempt to do routine maintenace and inspection on her steep roof on her 2003 constructed, single story ranch tpe house, I find myself very unsure of my footing.Although its only one story, seems like its 25 plus feet high. She has some sort of composite shingles. Cleaning gutters is no problem, its just that finally step up onto the roof and moving around on the steep pitches. Is there any kind of safety type harness or ladder extension or whatever that I can be secured to and/or move around without a fear of sliding into oblivion, so to speak? I don’t want to leave anything up there all winter or have it permanently attached. I know this must seem like a pretty weak question but any help, no matter how simple would be appreciated…
Thanks,
Mike in Eureka California, sometimes in Maine…
Replies
Welcome to the board.
To me, getting off the ladder onto the roof is kind of like riding a bike. The only way to get comfortable doing it is to do it.
You can explain to someone over and over how to ride a bike. But until they do it themselves they can't really learn. Getting off the ladder is the same way. Do it enough times and you'll get comfortable with it.
Make sure you have the ladder extended about 4 feet above the roof so you have something to hold onto as you climb off.
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Hey Boss, thanks for the reply..Its not necessarily getting off the ladder that bothers me, its staying in one place after getting on the roof. The roof pitch isnt out of the ordinary but still steep. How do I 'get a grip'? I can see attaching somesort of device that goes over the roof peak to anchor to. One guy sent a link to a T-Bar assembly that looks like a good anchor however...Mike
I've done stuff as low-tech as throwing a rope over the roof and tying it off to something. Just don't tie it off to a vehicle that someone might start up and drive away....(-:
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gee Boss, I'm not sure your analogy of riding a bike is such a good one. I remember being told that you have to fall off the bike a couple of times before you got the learning down. Hope that doesn't apply to getting on a roof.
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
Just don't tie it off to a vehicle that someone might start up and drive away....
Thats funny ! Can't tell you how many times I've thrown a rope over 12/12 roof and had it tied to the grill guard on my truck with the keys in it. Honestly, I never gave it a second thought but what if the homeowner needed to move it to get a car out of the garage or something. Good call Boss !
Could you stand on the ground and use binoculars to inspect the condition of the roof.++++++++++++++++
-Do the thing you fear and the death of fear is certain-
Make sure you have the ladder extended about 4 feet
Like riding a bike, we all tend to do things slightly different.
I hate gettin onto a ladder that is extended up more than a foot. Osha requires 3' but I get very uncomfortable entering the ladder from the side. I prefer to step dircetly over it and stay centered on the ladder at all times. Therefore, I NEVER would extend a ladder 4' up!
I should warn the original poster that getting up onto the roof is ten times easier than getting down onto the ladder!
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Do you know HOW steep this roof is? in terms of pitch or relative to _____what?
Reason i ask is that I am trying to picture what maintainance a three year old roof could be likely to need. A roof steep enough to be a concern won't have debris settled in to clean off...
But the best option I see is a harness and rope. You can leave the mount permanent on the ridge, but the problem with that is that you can't be leaving the rope out in the elements indefinitely and expect it to save a life.
Maybe a chicken ladder
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The other issue with a permanent ridge mount is that you have to get up there to hook on. Given a single story house, perhaps good tie points at the eaves would work, and from there throw the rope over for working the other side. Just remember never to cross the ridge. 50 ft. 5/8" lines are pretty standard for rope grab work. I got mine from:
http://www.versafety.com
-- J.S.
I have one that I get up on every so often to replace shingles blown off. The old guy doesn't want to spend money to replace the whole roof, but lets his insurance pay me for repairs a few shingles at a time. I left a hook up there - 'bout a 14/12. I have a clothesline strungthrough it to use as a feeder to re-insert my climb rope while I'm still down on the ladder.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Don't forget the boots. http://www.cougarpaws.com are great if you only wear them on roofs and not for everyday trafficking around town.
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Just be sure to wear some soft soled shoes like tennis shoes or crepe soled.
Stay off of it if it's too steep.
She could pay someone to check it every two years or so cheaper than an ER visit for you.
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Ha, I was typing while you posted that. Like minds and all that great stuff..
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Well, you are the roofing expert around here.
Those cougarpaws look like they would be good to have.
And that model would probably be a good "Carpenter's Helper"?
"I seek the social ownership of property, the abolition of the propertied class and sole control of those who produce wealth. Communisum is the goal!" - Roger Baldwin Founder of the ACLU
Oh garsh..no expert here, I just play a roofer on BT. LOL
The boots are a bit clumsy at first, the soles extend beyond the actual sides quite a bit, can be tricky driving if the pedals are close together in your ride..don't ask.
The softness of the compound would not be a good thing for long term wear, and the absence of a heel to instep shelf makes climbing an aquired skill if any mud is present.
I like mine, but ...I am not always on the same type of roof, some days metal, some days comp. somedays wood or slate. The changeable soles is a great idea. Keep the velcro clean and yer goood to go.
Yeah, I wish my coworker looked like her, but then again, I doubt much would get done roofing wise.
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