Leak in slate roof, use JD4310/430 + to access

[JB4310]

If you're not comfortable it wont work, but what about a rope tied to the top rung and thrown over the peak to the other side and tie off to something on the other side of the house?

You could use that rope or another for a safety belt, you could use a simple belt for maintaining your position, prevent sliding, just don't leave enough slack to get over the edge, or else you would need a complete harness. even with a harness there needs to be someone else nearby to aid in a recovery, as you could die suspended in a harness for to lengthy a period of time. The newest harnesses have drop down stirrups so you can use your feet to lift yourself and relieve excessive pressure on your torso, while you await rescue.

For a little job like that, I tell people I have a $250. minimum charge. I just come out and do it, I don't go to look at it first. Most people are happy to get a contractor to come out for relatively small money. And I'm happy since it usually takes very little time. If it's so easy, I'll usually do something extra, like seal all the vents or flashings etc.

It's usually a foot in the door for other work down the road.

JB

 

[alternety]

If I put a rope over the ridge and put my weight on it , it is likely to destroy the slate on the ridge. The ladder needs support from below. This stuff is quite fragile. The ordinary approach to working on the roof is supposed to be lifting the slate out of the way where you want to walk. The 4th slate I lifted was split entirely through horizontally. 1 of 4 did not strike me as good odds to lift several dozen. The stuff is not holding up as it is supposed to.

 

[MarkV]

I want to see some photo's if you can. The slate roofs I have been around are much more sturdy than what you describe. I don't see how as fragile as your sounds it would stand up to hail or an occasional tree branch. Some of the slate roof in my area have been there for 100 years of storms, hurricanes and tornados.

MarkV

 

[Damifino]

I believe alternety stated "This is not your fathers slate" in your last post, you stated "The stuff is not holding up as it is supposed to" is there a warranty for this product.

I would pursue that avenue, is it a written warranty and what is covered, I agree with MarkV, that tile is way to fragile.

2 years ago, I was getting tired of manhandling a 32' fiberglass extension ladder for tree trimming, having to balance and thread through limbs and branches just was to much of a hassle and pain in the back.

I have 2 sets of forks and adapted one set where I attached ladder and can now maneuver with just the fel handle, I can still convert back to forks in about 10 minuites

As previous mentioned, it may be possible with air mattress attached to bottom side of ladder to raise up and gently lower onto roof, if interested I can take some pics this afternoon and post.

If you can weld, it's fairly simple and secure, I had to weld up 2 foot brackets and a cross member for clamping ladder to fork frame.

 

[JB4310]

If I put a rope over the ridge and put my weight on it , it is likely to destroy the slate on the ridge. The ladder needs support from below. This stuff is quite fragile. The ordinary approach to working on the roof is supposed to be lifting the slate out of the way where you want to walk. The 4th slate I lifted was split entirely through horizontally. 1 of 4 did not strike me as good odds to lift several dozen. The stuff is not holding up as it is supposed to.

I'm curious what makes this roof so different, is it the material or the way it was installed? is it real natural slate? Or some artificial material. I'm not doubting you anymore, just curious.

Couple of pics of what snow load can do, theses are schd 40 steel pipes with SS mounting plates that got ripped off this 80 year old roof. Damaged the slate around the mounting plates but the rest of the roof is still in very good condition. Notice some of those never fading colors, after 80 years in the sun and still the same color, nothing man made can do that.

JB.

 

[alternety]

I have a sheet of foam on the roof and a narrow ladder I made for getting in the water tank. I believe it will protect the slate. I just do not feel comfortable up on a roof.

I called the roofing guy this morning, he flatly refuses to talk about getting up on slate "because of liability". Did not want to here the details. So I am looking again, with only today being dry.

The slate is real slate, with widely varying thickness. I am in a forest and I was trying to make things as fire resistant as I could. I was looking at metal, but did not like it. Tried artificial slate, but I could not find any where the actually material was fire rated. A lot of them said they were fire rated but if you poked around real hard in the specs; it was only if you put a fire rated roof under them. Then I found this stuff.

The way it is installed is to lay down horizontal strips of galvanized strips and nail that to the roof. They have stainless steel wires with hocks on the end. Over this you put foot or so wide continuous roll stiff plastic sheeting.

This plastic is the waterproof membrane. Then starting from the top down, you stick a piece of slate up under the one above, place it a bit behind the hooks and slide it down to contact the hooks. Repeat as needed.

During installation we found that you just could not walk around on the stuff. Too many broke. The idea was that if you need to access the roof, you pull up slates and set them aside and walk on the exposed plastic. Which, incidentally, is quite slippery. Particularly when wet. I would not let anyone on the roof when there was dew or rain. As noted above somewhere, the fourth piece I tried to lift off had split into two pieces. Hence my effort to be able to distribute forces enough to move on top of the slate.

The manufacturer claims 100 year life. The problem that is developing is that the slate is shedding layers. It is not tight enough and freeze/thaw seems to be deteriorating it. So far it has not caused major obvious problems. And the slate is not the waterproof layer.

It has been through wind with 60 - 70 mph gusts without difficulty. It has also had a fair amount of snow with depths unusual for this area. I have no idea what the years will bring.

 

[Andrewnewy]

Scaffolding is the way to go, what you can do is build a tower and the cantilever a platform out from it, on the opposite side of the tower you place weights to counter act the weight of you & the platform. Pretty easy stuff if your a scaffolder. If you have any rock concert hire/ production companies around give them a call, and ask about 'ground supports' and 'truss' these are aluminum box truss's very easy to erect and you could cantilever something out at-least 6 Meters from the column, I use to do it all the time, not fir roofing, but for concerts. All the gear is designed to be put up quickly and taken down quickly. And as it's all light, can be carried in by hand, so no need for big trucks or crains.

On the subject of the loader, you should never rely on hydraulic cylinders to support your life! Unless they are designed for lifting humans and a fail safe's in place.
If you ever do have to work under a raised load, one way to stop the cylinder from dropping is the get a piece of steel U channel of a minimum of 5-6mm thick cut it to the length of the extended rod, and strap it over the rod once extended, if the cylinder fails, the load will the be placed on the u channel instead.

 

[alternety]

Not getting a lot of useful responses to phone calls.

Pretty much every roof contractor says no. Regardless of my explanation of what is needed, willingness to sign a document absolving them from slate damage, ignoring what needs to be done. Confused and browbeaten by the legal people. Simple understanding is destroyed. Lawyers circle over head.

I have the way to get to the pipe in place. I am just not comfortable doing what thousands of people do every day. Move from the ladder/platform to the roof. Any drone that will get on the roof can do this. It does not need to be a roofer or anything other than someone willing to get on the roof. If you will go onto the roof, and can point a caulking gun; qualification is complete.

Can't get that across to vendors. **** the lawyers. Lawyers should have a special circle in ****.

 

[teg]

We have cranes operators that lift tree cutters into large trees around here a bunch... just saying...

"...The manufacturer claims 100 year life. The problem that is developing is that the slate is shedding layers..." Ever thought about replacing the roof with asphalt? Just kidding... I understand the fire "proof" mentality....

My "retirement" home will be no more than a 5:12 pitch (pretty flat) and one story.

Thinking outside the box... long tube, with a long 15 foot stick, caulk from the edge of the roof???

 

[JoeL4330]

What I am going to try is to lay down a sheet of foam rubber and put a little ladder I built to get into the water tank on top of that. I want to use the loader bucket to keep the ladder from slopping, but it is very close to not high enough.

I tested the bucket today. What is a reasonable time for the bucket to drop by some amount (n inches) with the engine off and loader in max extension up?

Best way to prop up bucket (IMHO) is with a piece of angle iron cut to fit the cylinder extension (or two) ...just remember to remove when you go to lower bucket