walking steep metal building roof

[mechanic]

I can walk on the metal building roof but I stay away from the edge about 3 to four feet. My biggest fear is slipping. I have gotten down on my knees to tighten a screw and have my keens start sliding. I really don't have to much problem with shoes sliding but worry about it. Can you tell what your experience is and what you did to remedy that worry or making it safer. It is a little worrisome when I am up there. I also found some caulking called novaflex that comes in white that is suppose to be very good to seal and work with by using your finger to smooth it out and get a good finish that seals any leak. thanks

 

[s219]

When I was covering my boathouse roof a couple years ago with PBR metal panels, I found that I was much safer if I wore shorts when working on the panels. When I kneeled down, the skin on my knees was enough to help me stay put compared to having pants on, where I'd have no chance at all. And I wore sneakers instead of my workboots, since they gripped better too. I was still uneasy and very careful.

Does anyone make grippy rubber knee pads? Those might help.

 

[Brok]

Use a foam pad like you would find in a couch cushion.

 

[KYKub]

I have a steep metal roof myself and I don't get on it. The DirecTV installer came and mounted my dish on the roof. It was morning when he went up and he got around with no problem. I hung around and helped, sending tools and other things up a rope for him. When he started to come down, the sun had started to heat and dry the roof and it became slick. Very slick! I ended up having to rig up a belay line and help him "rappel" off the roof! He actually had to sit and collect his thoughts once he got to the ground. Said he'd never do it again.

Sorry I don't have any practical advice.

 

[groundcover]

A roof harness and a roof ladder are a lot cheaper than a trip to the ER ! Watched a roofer slide off a metal garage roof , only hurt his pride. Had a carpenter come off a thirty foot roof, got a ride in the med flight helicopter and quite a stay in a level one trauma center.

 

[crackerjack222]

Part of my metal roof is very steep and part is just steep. The one time I had to go up on the just steep part, I anchored a ladder to the roof using the existing screws. That worked. I helped a friend when he had to go up on his steep roof. He tied a long rope around his waist and threw it over the other side of the house where I held tension on while he was moving around and I tied it off while he was working in one spot.

 

[Zerk]

When I fell off the shed I was building last year, the tree slowed down. I had been waking down it al day, with a2x4 to catch me at the bottom. This is the first time without it.

 

[BHD]

on my barn roof, where I have to get on it ocasionaly I took 2/3" EMT conduit, and used the double screw conduit clamps, and screw it on and in some places, I made a "ladder", since it is a old hay barn there are three roof levels, and the conduit is up by the top of the roof sections, and is such it will hold a ladder well on the middle which is close to a 9/12 pitch, the others are 4 or 5/12 pitch

it helps some on ice sliding off the roof as well,

If concerned one could place one at the bottom of the roof deck about 12" up from the bottom edge, that would keep one from sliding off, and or one could lay a ladder on the roof to navigate it if there was some thing to keep the ladder from sliding off. in some places I a couple of the conduits across the roof, it also keep the roof from lifting do to wind,

I usually place them about 2 foot apart where I have more than one,

not the greatest picture but one can see the ladders on the north and east side and some of the conduits on the east side (back)

 

[vidio1]

x2 on the couch cushion foam, it works.

 

[Looking4new]

I came off my steel roof twice. The first and last time. I was twenty years younger then, too.