(2nd try) How do you climb down from a roof?

[jenkinsph]

You need a longer ladder. I need at least 4 ft sticking up above the roof. I have tried stepping on ladders at roof level and it makes me really sick feeling. I wanna grab the ladder while still comfortably standing on the roof.

Ditto,

If your ladder is only reaching the edge of the roof then you need a 28' extension ladder. Fasten the ladder at the top before you climb onto the roof. The time spent securing the ladder and or damage to roof is no comparision to falling and getting severely injured or worse.


Steve

 

[Duffster]

My first attempt to post this got boogered some how, so I'm trying again.

I could use some very detailed instructions, preferably with pictures, on proper technique to get from the roof back onto the step ladder.

From a comfort level, I feel pretty good on the ladder and on the roof, but I get the heeby jeebies going right over to the edge of our 2nd floor roof to get back on the ladder. If I felt like I was using a proper technique, I think that would help my confidence.

I have some minor shingle repair work to do, so I'm hoping I don't have to get too carried away with safety equipment. But I'm not against buying some stuff, as I'd probably use it on other jobs.

No offense but if you have to ask questions like this you don't belong on a roof.

 

[DELInstallations]

minimum of 3' above surface whenever using an extension ladder.

 

[weedpharma]

As this is a tractor forum shouldn't you be asking "How do I tie the ladder onto the FEL so I can safely get on and off the roof?"

Weedpharma

 

[ragkar]

OT

How do you get down from an elephant?

You don't. You get down from a duck.

 

[BigE_]

Thought you got down from a goose?

 

[beenthere]

No offense but if you have to ask questions like this you don't belong on a roof.

And with less offense, don't do it if it feels at all uncomfortable. Ask the TBN'rs how to do it. A lot of good ideas here.

A neighbor recalls the time when his aluminum ladder blew down while he was on his roof, and his wife was gone, and there were no neighbors within shouting distance. Cars kept going by, and he waved at them to come to his aid. They just waved back. About 4 or 5 hours, his wife came home and put his ladder back up for him.

I use a wood ext. ladder. And after the comments, I will now raise it 3' above the roof edge. But that will require hauling out both sections, as one only reaches the facia board.

 

[deepNdirt]

Seriously ... I know a fella who tied a rope to the bumper of his truck, threw it over the roof. Climb up, grabed the rope and tied himself off ... was working and all of a sudden he heard his truck fire up!! Yep the wife pulled him over the roof.... a few things broke and alot of sore. I think something was also CHEWED!!!

This reminds me back when I was working on the outside of a new home, the roofer had finished up and the plumbers came to install the vent pipe boots, the roof was a 10/12 pitch and he was informed by his boss that any roofs over a 9/12 he needs to tie himself off with a rope, he climbs up the roof with rope around his waist toss the end over the ridge and down to the ground tells the other guy to hold onto his end good, and then he starts back down the room to install the vent boots, as he was trying to install one of them he realized he had been given the wrong size and stood up and yelled to the other guy that he had give him the wrong ones, in a minutes or so that guy came walking around back side of the house and told the other plumber on the roof that he couldn't hear a Dang thing he's saying, ooops! who the heck is holding the other end of the rope.................Dah!
I have worked on ladders, scafolding & roofs all my working life, so I'm not even going to suggest that you do as I use to do, But I would simply step forward onto the ladder and walk down heel to heel steps, But again thats me! I am a little backwards

"No offense but if you have to ask questions like this you don't belong on a roof." <---- 2nd this

 

[foggy1111]

"No offense but if you have to ask questions like this you don't belong on a roof." <---- 2nd this[/QUOTE]

Oh com'mon now!!! The OP asks a question to help him feel better getting on and off a ladder.....I see little issue with this. Getting on and off a roof properly is worth talking about and asking about. Nobody is born with the best methods on how to use a ladder safely (or tractors or other machines for that matter). I think his question is valid. So there!

As for me....high places and ladders don't mix.

 

[horse7]

I prefer to use scaffolding and Aluma Planks... contractors obviously prefer ladders most of the time for quick set up and take down, easier to carry, etc.. Scaffolding is expensive but resale is pretty good, and like people have mentioned it only takes one accident to vaporize "savings" from cheaper solutions.

My house is on a small hill, and when standing on one section of the roof it appears that the edge drops off 50 feet I know the drop is only 22 feet but it sure looks like more-- I hire people for that section.

 

[jaquetarr]

Haven't seen this on a previous post:
Another thing you can do to secure the ladder is to tie the bottom down so it won't fall over or kick out. Also tie it at the top to prevent movement. The pic of the ladder stand posted before is an excellent way to secure it.
Rgds,
tim

 

[drssg]

I appreciate everyone's comments. In case anyone's interested, here's the picture of what I'm trying to do. I didn't have time to setup the ladder for this picture, but I put the extension ladder from the ground to the 2nd floor roof.

I really like the ladder stabilizer that smitty9266 recommended, and I plan to buy one of them. I also plan to tie off the ladder at the top and throw a rope over the roof. If I tie the other end to my tractor then I might even meet the minimum requirement to post in this forum. I'll admit that this isn't much of a project, and I actually intended to post in the Safety forum.

I can't really argue with those who say I have no business being on the roof. I'm not exactly on Plan A right now. I made several attempts to get someone to do the work for me, and most won't even call back. I managed to get a couple of quotes that I thought were outrageous. The roofers in our area have plenty of work, due to some extensive storm damage last year. No one seems to want to bother with a small job like mine.

I've actually done a fair amount of work fixing loose roof screws on our 72' x 200' pole barn, so I'm not completely unaccustomed to working on a roof. There was just something about the extra height of the 2nd floor roof edge that made me uncomfortable and I wanted to get better ideas on how to do things.

As foggy1111 suggests, I wasn't born knowing this stuff, and I've received a lot of good information. Thanks again.

 

[Erik_in_Hoyt]

if you see a need to be up there much, I'd consider installing a couple of lag hooks in the fascia under the gutter to use as an anchor point for tieing off the ladder.

 

[CurlyDave]

I would think about accessing that roof from a stepladder on the lower roof.

I had a similar situation in my old house and found that a stepladder with the top secured to the building (lag hooks and chain) was very stable and seemed much safer to me than going up an extension ladder from the ground. Also prevented gutter damage.

Just have to be careful not to get your weight outside the base of the ladder. Get a ladder with a wide enough stance and climb it from the uphill side. It should be tall enough to easily step from the ladder to the roof.

Spend the $$ on a quality 10' or 12' step ladder and save yourself a nasty fall.

 

[deepNdirt]

My apologies to you with my quoted comment "no business being on the roof"
I understand You need to get some jobs done and concerned about the safety factors, and it is good for you to ask it's just that over the past 30+ years of me hiring guys that tell me they have no problems with working on ladders scaffolds etc, only to get the job and once they are on a ladder they freeze and are scared to death, Heck one time I had to call a boom truck to get one of my best employ down from the top of a chimney chase approx 60ft high took a 40 ft ladder plus 2 scaffold so freezing up can happen to the best of us, Some people say that being scared is only natural, although in my business you cannot be afraid of hights, if so it will get you hurt or killed, I'm not saying you don't need to maintain a safety factor of concern and safety environment using good safe tools,Oh! and (common since).........
in construction you have 3 types of people,
1-Cautious/Careful,- be sure all safety measures are in place before working.
2-stupid/Careless, - ones who cut their fingers off & fall from ladders
3-people with common since that know when Not! to try something their not sure they can do, .....and to me these are the smartest groups
................................................................................................
Now preaching over..
There is another device I use on ladders when working around windows
its called a window standoff, in your picture it looks like you have a standard 12" soffit overhang with gutters, obviously you dont want to prop a ladder on the gutter, so any of these devices metioned will work either on the roof or against the wall, But when installing it bring it down to the 2nd or 3rd rung this way you'll have enough ladder above the roof to grab hold to when attempting to step back onto the ladder,

 

[Erik_in_Hoyt]

I have one of those standoffs - they're great! (and relatively inexpensive)
you can find them in the ladder section at any big box store, usually under $30.
In addition to holding the ladder out from the soffets or straddling window casings, they pretty much stop any tendency of the ladder to sway or twist.

 

[turbo36]

When it comes to projects that need a ladder over 10' I usually fix the problem by writing a check

 

[Egon]

How do you climb down from a roof?

There are two ways. The one I prefer is quite slowly. The other method is off course much faster.

Can you install or have some scaffolding erected??

 

[woodlandfarms]

Please don't forget footing. I looked at your picture and it looks like you will be basing on your lawn. I had a dear friend up higher than your house hanging christmas lights. The bottom slipped out and he rode the ladder all the way down. He got lucky, he only got a major concussion, a broken arm and collarbone. I swear I was in the emergency room with him and another guy was rolled in with both his arms broken. I looked at the nurse and she said two things. "It is christmas, we get at least 4 a day" and "I hope he and his wife are solid, who is going to wipe his tush".

Yeah, Be careful. If you don't like heights don't do it. Looking down from 30 feet trying to get back on the ladder is a bad time to find out you are acrophobic. Those mounts for the top of the ladder are cool, but I don't know how well they work when you are trying to exit the ladder. seems likes something to trip on but I know they are great for doing wall and gutter work.

 

[beenthere]

Thanks for the pic.
Seems I would be going onto the lower side roof and then onto the 2nd story roof (not directly onto the high roof from the ground). Looks like one could almost jump onto the 2nd story from the peak of the first , but can't see that height from the pic.

I'd only ladder that high side of the house to work on the eaves or windows on that side.