How to stay on a 45 degree composition shingle roof without sliding down? I need to trim some branches-thanks
Question:I kept sliding today when I got up on the roof to trim branches, and I figured there has to be an easier way to stay on the roof. It was a little scary up there as my feet kept sliding. Any ideas?
Answers:
Professional roofers use a thick foam rubber cushion from an old couch or chair. It needs to be thick and not thin or you will tear through it and end up sliding to the ground. Two would be even better. Truthfully though you need a helper with you for if nothing else to dial 911 if you tumble and fall. Never work alone in dangerous situations.
You need to fabricate/purchase what is known as a chicken ladder. You can do a web search to find out what they look like. You can build out of pressure treated 1 x4 lumber and leave on the roof for future use. At the top of the chichen ladder is a hook which slips over the peak of the roof. Or you could use a rope at the top and toss down other side of peak and tie to something on the ground.
I assume you had on shoes with soft rubber soles. Anyway, if you use a chicken ladder, be sure to pad it well at the peak of the roof so it doesn't crush the cap shingles, because they rarely sit down tight to the plywood. I usually use a couple of pieces of 1/2" plywood about 18 x 18 with a piece of carpet well stapled on one side and with strips of 1 x 1 around the edge of the other side to keep the foot from slipping off. Sit down on the roof and with your hands on the roof behind you just lift your hips and kind of " crab " walk to your spot, set down the boards and stand on them while you work. Or, you might look at whether-or-not you might be able to climb the offending tree and remove the problem branches once-and-for-all.
Buy a length of half inch rope long enough to tie to something secure on the ground and run it over the peak of the roof to tie yourself off. That will allow you more freedom to move around than a chicken ladder. Just don't tie to the bumper of your wife's car shortly before she leaves to go shopping.
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