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How to safely climb a roof?

A

arcas

Platinum Member
I need to redo the weather seal around the furnace vent pipes. Unfortunately they're near the apex of my roof so I'll need to scale the roof to reach them. I measured the slope of the roof at 45 degrees which seems too steep to simply "climb."

So how do professional roofers climb roofs without damaging them (ie. no nailing of supports)? Do they simply toss ropes over the roof and secure it to something on the ground? That might be hard to do in my case given the shape of the roof on the other side.

 
Is there any structures, like a brick chimney you could tie a safety line onto? I have also seen where people have nailed pieces of of boards to their roofs to allow them to climb up easier, and removed them afterwards, but you said you didn't want to try that option.
That leaves you with either throwing a line over the roof and tying it off on something on the otherside, or just carefully climbing up it and hoping you don't slip -- that is what I would probably do, but then again I would probably manage to kill myself.
 
If the roofing is shingles you can pry the tabs up and nail toe boards under the tabs then use caulk/cement to fill the holes and reseal the tabs after removing the boards.

Another method is to secure a ladder to the rafters then lay one section of a second extension ladder onto the roof surface, secure it to the first ladder, and use it to ascend the roof.(risky)

Have someone ready to dial 911.

The best method is to pay an experienced roofer to do it.
 
They make a hock that goes on the end of a latter with is made to grab onto the peak of the building. You use that to be able to walk on the roof.
 
I wouldnt get on a 12 pitch roof. 45 degress makes it a 12 pitch (rises 12 inches for every 12 inches it spans)

Around here most roofs are 8 or 10 pitch on newer homes, I wont even get on those. About the steepest MOST people should attempt to get on is a 6 pitch. An 8 pitch is easy to slide off of and its only about 32 degrees.

If you think it looks steep now just wait until you are up there.

If you insist on doing it get some roof jacks from your local roofing supply store. They nail up underneath the shingles and you put a board between a pair of them.

The redneck method is to get a long rope, tie it to the bumper of a pickup on the other side of the house and use that for a safety harness.
 
Run up the roof while holding B, when you get somewhat close hit A to make a BIG jump and land on the roof.
 
one theory of when they built the pyramids is making giant dirt ramps as they built the pyramid...they just kept raising the ground around the thing until it was done and then just dug the pyramid out..


i suggest renting a large bulldozer and using dirt within the area, continuously build a ramp up the point you need to reach. this way you will never have to leave the ground and thus wont have to worry about falling. when you are finished with your repair...just dig the dirt away and wash off the house with a hose and you are all done!
 
#1) Don't heed all the advice given here - other than the legitimate advice.

#2) Best of luck and please make me the beneficiary of your life insurance policy before going up on the roof.

Seriously, have you just considered calling a roofer to do the work? They have all the supplies to properly do the job. I'd hate to see you fall off your roof in an attempt to save $150. That just doesn't make sense at all.

 
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