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

[MikeD74T]

...I didn't want to use a slip knot so I used the old - rabbit out the hole and around the tree and back down the hole knot. So with the safety rope I was able to paint the wall even walking along the edge of the roof I felt completely comfortable. Then when I finished I went to untie the rope and as I started to untie the knot, the knot completely came apart on it's own. I had tied the knot wrong and the entire time I was working on the roof the rope was doing nothing but giving me confidence... quote]

I learned knots in the boy scouts, used knots in the Navy, and continue to use them in heights & confined space rescue as a firefighter. A couple of years ago our lead instructor came back from conference & announced that a bowline ( the rabbit/hole knot) was no longer acceptble for use in rescue by the fire service. I reminded him & continue to remind him that this advice comes from people that tie their shoes with velcro or zippers. Learn good knots, they can save your life.
Hitekcountry, It's funny that lack of comfort is what usually causes the fall.

As for the original question, I have a couple folding 4 section ladders, both 12' long. http://www.google.com/products/catalog?hl=en&num=10&q=%22folding+ladder%22&safe=on&cid=13232200262161698468&sa=title#p
They're great for your application. Use one to get on the lower roof then pull it up & walk to the ridge. Set it up straddling the ridge & have a secure climb onto the upper roof. They are just heavy enough & short enough that they're unlikely to get blown over stranding you on the roof. MikeD74T

 

[mrcaptainbob]

Every chance I get, I run the ladder 'till I get a good four rungs past the roof edge. Then I place the tractor FEL against the bottom of the ladder. Before the days of the FEL I staked a 2x4 across the bottom so it doesn't kick out. Kicking out is my biggest fear. Once I have confidence in the ladder's stability, on and off is soooo much easier on my mind!

 

[Ken45101]

As a firefighter, we were taught to step UP onto a ladder from the roof. IOW, step onto a rung above the roofline. Of course, that means that a properly sized ladder is at least 5' above the roof. Your ladder is too short.

(Just for fun, don't try this at home, we were also trained how to slide down the rails of a ladder for an emergency decent.)

Ken

 

[dave1949]

Every chance I get, I run the ladder 'till I get a good four rungs past the roof edge. Then I place the tractor FEL against the bottom of the ladder. Before the days of the FEL I staked a 2x4 across the bottom so it doesn't kick out. Kicking out is my biggest fear. Once I have confidence in the ladder's stability, on and off is soooo much easier on my mind!

I would stick with the 2x4. If you would fall, god forbid, it would be better to land on something flat, not a FEL bucket or the like.
Dave.

 

[JB4310]

I would stick with the 2x4. If you would fall, god forbid, it would be better to land on something flat, not a FEL bucket or the like.
Dave.

I agree, As morbid as it sounds when you work up high your always thinking about what you'll land on heaven forbid the worst happens.

It doesn't take much to secure the feet from sliding back. I bundle of shingles at the feet or a pail of sand under the inside of the ladder with a rope tied to it.
It's been mentioned but a rope tied at the top of the ladder to a gutter hanger helps to keep the ladder from side movement if a stabilizer is not available.

Back to the question, what I do on hairy roofs like a three family with a steep pitch, 40 footer fully extended over a driveway, is scooch butt down on all fours feet first like a crab, moving very carefully directly over the ladder, bring your arm around and grab a rung firmly not pulling back but pushing down, then swing a leg around and get a foot on a rung no higher than the roof, then your other hand and bring the rest of your body around.

When moving on the ladder high up I always tell who ever is working with me to firmly grab the rungs with fingers and thumb wrapped around, not holding the side rails and also when way up high to have a firm grip with both hands before moving feet to next step, it's a little slower but much safer cause even if you loose your feet by slipping you will be holding yourself with 2 hands and could recover your footing quickly.

JB.

 

[jaquetarr]

"firmly grab the rungs with fingers and thumb wrapped around, not holding the side rails "

When I started out climbing ladders in oil tanker tanks, the rule was to never trust the rungs. A broken weld or rusted rung could put you on the stringers. We were told to hold onto the side rails.
Rgds,
tim

 

[dave1949]

"firmly grab the rungs with fingers and thumb wrapped around, not holding the side rails "

When I started out climbing ladders in oil tanker tanks, the rule was to never trust the rungs. A broken weld or rusted rung could put you on the stringers. We were told to hold onto the side rails.
Rgds,
tim

Wouldn't you always start out at the top of a tank and go down? I mean, you would have to step on the rung before your hands got to it on the way down.
Dave.

 

[jaquetarr]

When you're in the top of the tank, there are plenty of other things to hold on, and you can press your back against the manhole to steady yourself as you decend the first few rungs. Now days, and depending on the company, you may have a harness & line attached.

Rgds,
tim

 

[JB4310]

"firmly grab the rungs with fingers and thumb wrapped around, not holding the side rails "

When I started out climbing ladders in oil tanker tanks, the rule was to never trust the rungs. A broken weld or rusted rung could put you on the stringers. We were told to hold onto the side rails.
Rgds,
tim

I see what your getting at, but if you have a bad rung your in trouble one way or another, if you step on a bad rung and you start to go I doubt you'd hold yourself with hands on the rails.
But if you grab a bad rung your trouble just the same.

Different set of circumstances I guess with fixed ladders like those on a tower or tank.

On some jobs we will run a safety rope next to the ladder and wear a harness or belt and use a sliding rope grab attached to the lanyard, definitely makes for a more comfortable climb.

JB.

 

[silverdollar6]

If you want to get off of a roof, just put a big pile of straw next to the ladder and jump into the straw, a fun way to get off a roof.