Creating a Workshop & Home

[BoneheadNW]

Eddie-

Quick question(s): Metal roofs are fairly common up here in the NW. Are they also common in your area with the weather being as it is? Does it heat the place up any more than a comp roof or does metal reflect the heat?

I know it might sound like I am kissing up, but you are one macho guy with a macho girlfriend! Your work (and documentation thereof) are very inspiring.

Keep cool,

Bonehead

 

[EddieWalker]

Bonehead,

I don't know how much a diference a metal roof makes compared to composite ones underneath. Both are almost more then I can take during the heat of the day. The metal one is much, much hotter to be on during the day!!!

I was told the silver and lighter colors reflect the heat, but my container barn has a silver roof, and if it's reflecting any heat, I don't believe it.

As for being common, they are getting there. We have an aweful lot of metal building around here, and I'm seeing more and more custom homes being build with metal roofs. Even in the exclusive gated communities.

I like them mostly for there apperance. It's just something I like.

Eddie

 

[ZJ_HR]

You're right. Not connected to building roofs, but I have some experience with cars. White car has much lower roof temperature then silver painted car.

 

[EddieWalker]

This is what I have to deal with. Heights are a fear of mine, and the higher I get, the greater my fear!!!!!!!!!!

I've been looing at this, trying to figure out how to aproach it, but mostly stalling, trying to build up my nerve.

 

[DannyD]

I might suggest scaffolding, the cost of renting or buying sure beats a fall from that height. Plus think of the view from up there!

 

[EddieWalker]

Turns out my buckets maximum height is just above the upstairs window sill. All I had to do was park the tractor at the window, climb out the window, and work away. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

At first I was pretty nervous, but fairly quickly, I gained confidence and was able to bring a stool out to stand on inside the bucket. Gave me another 16 inches of reach!!

I'll have to get the very tops from above, but with the rain we got today, there's no way I can stay on a slippery metal roof. Can somebody say "waterslide." /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Eddie

 

[DannyD]

How did I know the tractor would come to the rescue. Looks good!

 

[fire72]

Break out the ropes. The open upstairs windows give you the ability to tie off the upper end of the ladder to interior framing. The bottom can be secured by staking. Not sure if you're using multiple ladders with walkboards or moving a single ladder as needed, but either will work. Alternately moving and securing a single ladder is less convenient, but very worthwhile. It's also a whole lot better than being 30 feet off the ground wondering if your ladder is going to kick out and wondering why in blazes didn't I take the five extra minutes to secure this thing properly. Knowing for absolute certain that the ladder is going to stay under you does a whole lot to reduce fear of heights.

As a professional firefighter assigned to a ladder truck, I get used to throwing ground ladders under less than ideal conditions (assuming you consider the house the ladder is against being on fire to be less than ideal /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif). Accordingly, I've always said it's not heights that make me nervous, it's heights when I'm not sure I'm going to stay there. Somehow, that's still not a reassuring thought when stepping off the edge to rappel down a 12 story office building. When I'm working off my own ladders on my own time, I make very certain I'm comfortable with the way my ladder is set and secured. It's not worth risking my hide and my livelyhood to save a few minutes of proper setup.

Set it up right, knock it out and relax with a beverage of choice. Few feelings are better than seeing a difficult job you didn't want to do done, and done well.

 

[fire72]

OK, I think you were a bit faster than me on that last post. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif Good to see the job done.

 

[EddieWalker]

Danny,

My first thought was to get the dump truck and put the ladder in the back. But the battery is dead, so instead of jump starting it, I noticed my tractor sitting there and wondered how hi I could get the bucket, and how I'd get into the bucket once it's up there.