How to Get Up on the Roof?

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velvetfoot

velvetfoot

Minister of Fire
Dec 5, 2005
10,202
Sand Lake, NY
Not sure what would be the best approach (yes, a chimney sweep is coming by this week to take a look).
There was water coming down on the outside of the oil chimney into the basement. I figure it needs to be caulked.
I was thinking of putting a ladder to the right of the chase, tying off to the chase, stepping off and using a rope to help climb up to the peak toward the top of the chase and somehow lean over the top of the 6' wide chase top to get to the pipe base.
Another idea I had was to lean the ladder up against the chase. (I have a 40 foot ladder)

Or, the chimney sweep guy could do it. :)

5052439221_f4cb1f22ce.jpg
 
If I couldn't do it with a ladder equalizer from the back side of that chimney I would be sitting in a lawn chair cheering the sweep on.
 
2-3 ladders, one on the porch roof, second on there up to the next roof. Would prob need a set of ladder jacks (hook thing that nails into the roof you run a board across...) to hold the second ladder from sliding out.

Roof looks walkable... 6 pitch? Toss a another 4 or 6ft step ladder on the side of the chase from the roof and climb on up. Yes it is freaking scary to kneel on top of the chimney chase 2+ stories up. You gotta do what you gotta do.

Thats how I would do it.
 
That's how it looks to me too. The right side roof pitches don't look to be that bad, but perhaps the camera angle is deceptive. Whatever you do, do it safely and within your comfort zone. A safety rope is not a bad idea here either.
 
Whatever you do be careful. A good friend fell 22' onto his side and back when we were helping my brother in law reshingle his roof. He more or less walked away with a bruised hip but did get to ride in an ambulance for precautions. The doctors were amazed at his outcome.

It is hard to even remember watching someone fall over the edge 5' from you and then have to look over fearing the worst. He couldn't have been luckier but it still put a fear in me that makes my 4/12 single story roof a welcomed site now.
 
What does the other end of the house look like? Maybe a nice easy spot to put the ladder on the driveway and then walk the length of the ridge?
 
Stilts?
 
The other side is a breezeway, but I'm not crazy about going the length of the house at the ridge anyway.
Another way would be to put a ladder on the deck on the far side and again, walk almost the length of the ridge.

Did I mention the roof is metal? :)

I got some levelers for the ladder by Werner - they seem like they'd help, generally.
 
The camera shot does make the left side of the roof appear to reach higher, looks as if a secured ladder back there or along the ridge from there would make this safe and simple. At least, it looks that way from the comfort of my desk chair. I've just been doing something like this on an extremely steep roof of metal and it took me two days to do something that on a flatter roof would have been two hours. Go slowly and you'll get it done.
 
Yeah, I thought the roof was metal. Anyway, here is my call: Let the sweep do it. Be there when he does it to learn. You may realize that you never want to do it. One fall, one time can change your life forever. Yours is somewhat of a challenge because of the grade near the house and the metal roof. Spend your money on a sweep and save it somewhere else.
 
As I recall, one of the crew that installed the liner for the insert sat on top of the chase; I think it's only about 2' wide.

I'd also stake the bottom of the ladder.
I've read about the arm's length rule (1/4 rule, or 75.5 degrees) as well.

I've been on a shingle roof that high before but it was a while ago.
 
You might consider renting a tow-behind boom lift, like this Genie flavor:

http://www.genieindustries.com/tmz-series/index.asp

You could probably level it near the garden at the end of the porch...but that might be a little tricky with the pitch there.

Home Depot rents one, and most equipment rental places have them. Call around and see if you can find a "free Sunday" deal by renting it from someone who is closed Sunday's.

With this you can easily get to the top of both chimney pipes, and also make any water sealing improvements you need. You can also doing any window cleaning and painting/cleaning of siding while you're at it.

I use one for all my house staining now. I get sooo much more done using this instead of moving a ladder all day long...well worth the money, assuming the weather cooperates.
 
I vote for the sweep.
 
If it is dry outside you can walk right up that roof with good sneakers on. Just have to get on the upper roof first.

I have humped across the ridge on a ranch house last year in the middle of winter with 1ft of snow and ice on the roof. That was tons of fun. Had to hold onto the brick chimney once I got to it or I would slide right off. Must have been at least a 6 pitch, maybe 8. I was a little wet by the time I got back down. All that work just to shine a flashlight down the flue to see if we could install a SS liner in it.
 
jtp10181 said:
2-3 ladders, one on the porch roof, second on there up to the next roof. Would prob need a set of ladder jacks (hook thing that nails into the roof you run a board across...) to hold the second ladder from sliding out.

Roof looks walkable... 6 pitch? Toss a another 4 or 6ft step ladder on the side of the chase from the roof and climb on up. Yes it is freaking scary to kneel on top of the chimney chase 2+ stories up. You gotta do what you gotta do.

Thats how I would do it.
Click to expand...

x2

Mine also sucks, here's how I did mine using ladder jacks. Maybe it'll give you an idea or two.
 

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velvetfoot said:
Not sure what would be the best approach (yes, a chimney sweep is coming by this week to take a look).
There was water coming down on the outside of the oil chimney into the basement. I figure it needs to be caulked.
I was thinking of putting a ladder to the right of the chase, tying off to the chase, stepping off and using a rope to help climb up to the peak toward the top of the chase and somehow lean over the top of the 6' wide chase top to get to the pipe base.
Another idea I had was to lean the ladder up against the chase. (I have a 40 foot ladder)

Or, the chimney sweep guy could do it. :)

5052439221_f4cb1f22ce.jpg
Click to expand...
Put the ladder up against the chase like you said, (a cake walk), you can hop up there and clean your chimney while you're at it. ;-P
Seriously, try and have someone help you lean the ladder up there and hold it while you climb up, do the work right off the ladder. I realize it can be daunting and somewhat disorienting up high like that when you're not use to it, the trick is to not look down, just focus on what's right in front of you. But beware of walking on the metal roof,it can be done, but the slightest bit of moisture from dew or rain ( and sometimes even dust or ash) can make them deadly, even with a low pitch.
 
Thanks. Even if the sweep does it, I'd still like to have the ability to get up there and look around, crazy as that sounds.

Leaning the ladder right up against the chase, even with the ladder leveler and tying off the bottom, is more daunting to me, as compared with against the side of the chase and walking up the roof with a rope. The most scary part though is getting off and on the ladder, so doing the work on the ladder has its appeal. The repair might be more complex than I envision (replacement?), which could argue against doing it off a ladder. I also thought about not hurting the metal roof as well as myself, but shouldn't pop any screws since there is decking under the roof and it is screwed down in the valleys.
 
velvetfoot said:
Not sure what would be the best approach (yes, a chimney sweep is coming by this week to take a look).
There was water coming down on the outside of the oil chimney into the basement. I figure it needs to be caulked.
I was thinking of putting a ladder to the right of the chase, tying off to the chase, stepping off and using a rope to help climb up to the peak toward the top of the chase and somehow lean over the top of the 6' wide chase top to get to the pipe base.
Another idea I had was to lean the ladder up against the chase. (I have a 40 foot ladder)

Or, the chimney sweep guy could do it. :)

5052439221_f4cb1f22ce.jpg
Click to expand...

kinda what jtp10181 posted.

Mine is almost the same except yours is a bit taller
I just use one ladder, one guy.

Ladder up to porch.
Pull ladder up on porch roof.
Ladder up to main roof.
Then staddle peak and service.

Other options include 2 guys with associate holding ladder or you.
One guy could even gain access via 2nd story window.
No sweep necessary but for yours I'd go with 2 guys.
 
Set your 40 footer against the chase drive a couple of pieces of rebar
or BIP into the ground to keep the bottom from kicking out.
The safe angle is one to four: One foot out for every four feet up.
When you get up there, the first thing you should do is secure it to the chase.
We use adjustable nylon motorcycle straps, wrapped all the way around & hooked
around the closest rung to the top.
Been there & it's scary, but if you think before you make any moves, it's safe...
 
Thanks. I like the rebar and strap ideas - that's like a lightweight ratcheting tiedown?
I've used 12" spikes for other stuff, but they do have longer pieces of cut rebar at my local HD. How does one pry them out of the ground, seeing that they have no head on them? Pipe wrench to grip the rebar and crowbar on plywood?

I'm not crazy about the idea of a ladder on the lower roof, but a rope coming down to grab on to in case it slips might give me more confidence.
 
velvetfoot said:
Thanks. I like the rebar and strap ideas - that's like a lightweight ratcheting tiedown?

If the ratcheting type is what you have access to, use it. The type I use are a simple friction tightening type, but just as strong & a lot quicker to use...

I've used 12" spikes for other stuff, but they do have longer pieces of cut rebar at my local HD. How does one pry them out of the ground, seeing that they have no head on them? Pipe wrench to grip the rebar and crowbar on plywood?

Simply hammer them back & forth. They'll loosen up in the holes. They don't hafta be driven 3' into the ground. maybe 10-12" if the ground is stable. They're just temporary, so you don't hafta over do it...

I'm not crazy about the idea of a ladder on the lower roof, but a rope coming down to grab on to in case it slips might give me more confidence.
Click to expand...
 
Islander08 said:
You might consider renting a tow-behind boom lift, like this Genie flavor:

http://www.genieindustries.com/tmz-series/index.asp

You could probably level it near the garden at the end of the porch...but that might be a little tricky with the pitch there.

Home Depot rents one, and most equipment rental places have them. Call around and see if you can find a "free Sunday" deal by renting it from someone who is closed Sunday's.

With this you can easily get to the top of both chimney pipes, and also make any water sealing improvements you need. You can also doing any window cleaning and painting/cleaning of siding while you're at it.

I use one for all my house staining now. I get sooo much more done using this instead of moving a ladder all day long...well worth the money, assuming the weather cooperates.
Click to expand...

my friend rented one of these for about $230 around noon on Saturday and returned it Monday morning. I think it went up 50' and out 50'? I am going to rent one when I put gutters on my house - nice and secure :)
 
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