Setting a ladder on a garage roof

[rick-l]

I need to do this: Paint Ridge Board (http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/pptpresentations/pumpjack_0398/slides/slide32.html) but it appears OSHA would not approve of the self leveling extension ladder (http://www.wernerladder.com/newprods/equalizer_aluminum.php) I was thinking of buying.

I found these but seem pricey and small platform (http://www.roofmates.com/gablemaster.html)

How is this done safely?

Also... If your screw something in the roof through the shingles how do you seal the hole up again? In that roofmate it looks like they put two nails uner the lifted shingles. I'm not sure I would trust that.

If I built a platform to match the slope of the roof out of plywood and 2x4s to set the ladder on, how big would you make it? How would you secure it?

[westcoastplumber]

Hmmmm, am I being asked to invent something, for free:confused:

[res057]

If I built a platform to match the slope of the roof out of plywood and 2x4s to set the ladder on, how big would you make it? How would you secure it?

It would depend on how much of the ridge board you wanted to paint...Is this project for you or employees?
Personally, I'd paint it from above. But that's just me. Why over-complicate things?

[ToUtahNow]

It would depend on how much of the ridge board you wanted to paint...Is this project for you or employees?
Personally, I'd paint it from above. But that's just me. Why over-complicate things?

Because he is an Engineer?

True story:

Many many years ago I worked for an HVAC Company which also cleaned ducts and fireplaces. I got a call to go out to Andy Griffith's (Andy of Mayberry) home to give him an estimate to install 3-spark arrestors on his 3-chimneys. He lived in a large home in Studio City with some real scary roof heights and pitches. I explained to him exactly how I was going to do the job and I gave him the price I felt it was worth. He countered with saying I was way too expensive as it was only a roof and he sent me on my way.

The next day or two I heard on the radio he had fallen off of his roof and suffered a broken arm. I often wondered how much those spark arrestors really cost him. Sometimes you are better off leaving the tricky stuff to someone who knows how to do it.

Mark

[Bob D.]

I need to do this: Paint Ridge Board (http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/pptpresentations/pumpjack_0398/slides/slide32.html) but it appears OSHA would not approve of the self leveling extension ladder (http://www.wernerladder.com/newprods/equalizer_aluminum.php) I was thinking of buying.

"Exceeds ANSI and OSHA requirements"

What part of the above statement on Werners' web page that you provided the link to does OSHA disagree with? Did someone from OSHA tell you this is not approved or did you find a ruling on their web site or in the Regs stating that ladders of this type are not approved for use in applications such as this? I could see where the add-on leg levelers might be disapproved, but I don't know about the ones built-in by the manufacturer.

Maybe you should call Werner (or OSHA) and let them know their ladder is not approved.

The GableMate looks like a good idea but to look at it its just got an unstable look to it. Maybe its just the dimensions of the thing but it needs a little more heft to it.

[garager]

I build platforms which hooks over the peak, the other end which is built up to the height of the peak w/a 2"x4"x4' attached at bottom, so it will not flip over and has rubber grippers so it wouldn't try to slip. 2 supports at an angle which supports the built up end and the plat form (poor mans roof plank). Then I put my ladder on this. Or I build two towers of scaffolding, one on each side and run a 20-30ft x 2' wide Aluminum plank.

[jbergstrom]

Also... If your screw something in the roof through the shingles how do you seal the hole up again? In that roofmate it looks like they put two nails uner the lifted shingles. I'm not sure I would trust that.

If I built a platform to match the slope of the roof out of plywood and 2x4s to set the ladder on, how big would you make it? How would you secure it?

I would use a pair (or two or three) of regular roof jacks installed properly...
That is find a truss or rafter then lift the flap of the shingle carefully and drive two or three nails or screws into that roof truss or rafter. Next put your plank (2x6, 2x8 etc.) in place across the jacks and fasten in place with screws. Most roof jacks have holes for nails or screws for the plank, if yours don't just drill some. When you're finished with the jacks I usually just leave the nails or screws in place (drive flush). If you're really paranoid you can put a dab of roofing sealant over the head of the nail or screw.

Once you jacks are in place it doesn't take much to knock together a triangular platform that matches your roof pitch. You can screw this temporarily to the plank. In the illustration I've added 2x4's around the top of the platform for safety.

1701

Hope this helps - Jim

[mspaugh24]

Those were some scary pics on the OSHA site!!:eek:
Never,Ever put your walkboard on a stepladder,especially when you're 25 ft off the ground!! GOOD GRIEF!! Cant get over that one! :eek::eek:

[rick-l]

I would use a pair (or two or three) of regular roof jacks installed properly...
That is find a truss or rafter then lift the flap of the shingle carefully and drive two or three nails or screws into that roof truss or rafter. Next put your plank (2x6, 2x8 etc.) in place across the jacks and fasten in place with screws. Most roof jacks have holes for nails or screws for the plank, if yours don't just drill some. When you're finished with the jacks I usually just leave the nails or screws in place (drive flush). If you're really paranoid you can put a dab of roofing sealant over the head of the nail or screw.

Once you jacks are in place it doesn't take much to knock together a triangular platform that matches your roof pitch. You can screw this temporarily to the plank. In the illustration I've added 2x4's around the top of the platform for safety.

1701

Hope this helps - Jim
Thanks

Looks like the best plan yet. I never thought of roof jacks.

[rick-l]

What part of the above statement on Werners' web page that you provided the link to does OSHA disagree with?
I was referring to my plan A (Paint Ridge Board (http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/pptpresentations/pumpjack_0398/slides/slide32.html) ) which was put the ladder directly on the roof.

When I thought about it I wasn't comfortable doing it that way and did a google search for "ladder slope roof" when I stumbled across that OSHA picture.

[HVAC HAWK]

i say go to a rental place and rent a boom lift with a basket on it and you can do all your high things off this and live to brag about the job you did .

you tow them with a car and put it any where you want ,its worth the $$$$$

[Woussko]

I think one of these from a good rental yard would serve your needs pretty well.

http://www.jlg.com/default.asp

Then look under products for the model T350
Info on it in a .PDF file - http://www.jlg.com/Products/PDF/TowPro_Bro3_D5.pdf

Now if money isn't a problem and the rental yard will bring it to you then go for this one and have more fun.
http://www.jlg.com/Products/PDF/400SerTele_SS_D8.pdf

[HVAC HAWK]

the t350 was the one i was talking about

the last one we just had one on a job that went 80 ft up and that was fun

[jbergstrom]

We had some wind damage happen to one of our buildings this past winter, it blew quite a bit of siding off the elevator tower...
1710

I used roof jacks and my 30' ladder to replace as much as I could...
1711

I went as high as I could with the 30' ladder...
1712

Then I had to switch to my 40' ladder from the ground...
1713

I couldn't quite reach the top and because the original siding was put on in the summer I had to redo all the siding on the peak. That called for renting this 60' manlift...
1709

The manlift was very expensive - about $750.00 for the day. That was freight x2 ($120.00 + tax each way) and around $400.00 plus taxes for the lift, safety harness etc.

[Woussko]

$750 per day isn't that bad. Think of what it would have cost if you had fallen off a ladder or such.

[jbergstrom]

$750 per day isn't that bad. Think of what it would have cost if you had fallen off a ladder or such.

No, but I wouldn't call in the big guns unless/until I had to... :D

[staab29]

No, but I wouldn't call in the big guns unless/until I had to... :D

you could have just used a 60' extension ladder. that was some serious overkill and wasted money. i have 3 siding crews and some of the things that i see people do to set walls up or roofs by wasting so much money cracks me up because everyone makes it seem so much harder than it is. i.e. this thread about painting the rake board. that job is simple. and by the way .. that roof mate gable master in the first post is an excellent piece of equipment

[jbergstrom]

you could have just used a 60' extension ladder. that was some serious overkill and wasted money. i have 3 siding crews and some of the things that i see people do to set walls up or roofs by wasting so much money cracks me up because everyone makes it seem so much harder than it is. i.e. this thread about painting the rake board. that job is simple. and by the way .. that roof mate gable master in the first post is an excellent piece of equipment

First of all I work by myself and just out of curiosity I wonder if you could raise a 40' (44' actually) ladder by yourself let alone a 60' extension. Oops oh yeah right I forgot of course you could, right?

I did pretty damn good to get done what I did by myself using only ladders - would of had it if it was summer time when this happened...

We also would have called a siding crew if there were any available at the time... I hate doing siding, I think it's a job for pussies - oops, my bad, now I'm being rude...

Discussed this with the strata, management etc. and decided to go the man lift route because that was the safest way to go.

By the way the roof mate gable master looked good to me too but it's probably more expense then a typical DIY'er would like to spend.
That's why I suggested normal roof jacks with a platform - economics.

I too think a man lift is overkill for painting the rake or fascia boards on a two storey house but I wouldn't be ignorant like you about it... instead I thought I would suggest another way...

I just love it when guys like you snipe at these threads - kinda like the little dog syndrome to me. You ever answer anybodys question with practical advice? Or do you just sit and snipe to make yourself look and feel better?

Have a nice day - a**h*l* ;):eek::cool:

[staab29]

First of all I work by myself and just out of curiosity I wonder if you could raise a 40' (44' actually) ladder by yourself let alone a 60' extension. Oops oh yeah right I forgot of course you could, right?[quote]

actually i can raise a 40' er by myself. and no i cant raise a 60'er by myself, but if you work alone you could have hired someone for the day, sure beats $750 for a lift:rolleyes:

[quote]I did pretty damn good to get done what I did by myself using only ladders - would of had it if it was summer time when this happened...[quote]

that sentence doesnt make much sense.

[quote]We also would have called a siding crew if there were any available at the time... I hate doing siding, I think it's a job for pussies - oops, my bad, now I'm being rude...[quote]

they would have done it off ladders, looks like your the *****.
you said ''we'' i thought you worked by yourself:(

[quote]I too think a man lift is overkill for painting the rake or fascia boards on a two storey house but I wouldn't be ignorant like you about it... instead I thought I would suggest another way...[quote]

you spelled story wrong...:o

[quote]I just love it when guys like you snipe at these threads - kinda like the little dog syndrome to me. You ever answer anybodys question with practical advice? Or do you just sit and snipe to make yourself look and feel better?

Have a nice day - a**h*l* ;):eek::cool:

i feel great and i will have a nice day after reading this post:cool:

[jbergstrom]

This is getting old real fast...

40' (44') by yourself, check - that's about as big as I can tackle alone too...
I've covered why the lift and the general consensus is people would use one for 20' or 30' let alone 50' or 60'...

The reason I mention summer you should already know if you're a siding guy...
Vinyl expands and contracts, so in the middle of winter when 20 courses or so of siding get blown off you would have a heck of a time meeting the existing siding above...(siding was put on in summer). 20 x even 1/16" shorter or so on each piece means you finish about an inch short of meeting the existing stuff above. If it was summer it would have met, no problem. You should know that.

"We" are you that petty? The "we" simply means my wife and I, she is the property manager here where we live.... (btw she's 5'0'' and incapable of helping raise ladders or doing siding in case you suggest that:rolleyes:)

"storey" you better check your dictionary....:eek::D:o

You didn't answer the question... have you ever given helpful or constructive advice, or are you just an arrogant sniper with little dog syndrome who thinks "storey" is wrong?

Ciao for now :cool:

[garager]

A storey (also spelled story[1]), floor, deck or level is the level of a building above (or below) the ground.

ok guys lighten up a little. Be :cool::cool::cool:

[HVAC HAWK]

staab29 the reason people were suggesting the lift was that there are a lot of us that work safe so we can work another day .i would rather be safe then have an ego about how good you are .I'd rather tell some one how to do some thing safe then to tell them to use a 60' ladder and have them post that there back was injured,
and like jbergstrom said no one likes the little dog syndrome ,thats a person that will not help the people that has nothing good to help others .so try saying something to help and how some one is wasting $ because you would not .
i have seen more little contractors that work on houses do things unsafe because they think they do not have to do things OHSA's way .
so what we are saying is do not come across a pro and knock the way others would do things

[Mr.Chips]

Greetings all,

I think we all agree that the roof jacks are the best solution to the problem presented. My question has to do with terminology. To me a ridge board is a member of a " hand cut", as opposed to Truss, roof frame which falls at the peak of a gable end roof between the upper ends of rafters. Looking forward to your comments.