Chicken ladders

What are you using? Making your own still? Buying them?

tinner666 Said: ... Its idiot proof. ....

I've made that bold statement a time or two in my life.

In my experience, every time "they" make something idiot proof,.... the idiots just get better.

;)

What fun!

Scaffolding is pretty much out of the question on tune-ups. It's just not practical. Instead of attaching scaffold all over the roof to inspect for leaks, I can climb up the hook and inspect a large area with little to no impact on the roof. Not to mention, the hooks have attachment points so I can stay in harness the whole time and be safer. On that 14/12 valley job, it was two stories on that side, on a hill and a carport roof below that could NOT support a ladder on it. Used 20' hook on front to up and over, then 18' hook to get to bottom and stood in stirrup of ascender to pull the slate, add valley and reinstall the slate at the bottom. I worked alone.

As for the metal roof, I always cut and fit for dormers, etc. instead using of those funny looking wings. They sure don't do the house any good in the looks department.

You can see how we hand formed the wall panel under the AC unit. It reverted back to SS just below the corner.

At the wall, we double locked the seams where we turned them up.

It's a hidden fastener w/ the built in screw holes. That was my first metal roof other than a pole barn. Had a leak right at a 2' "flat" valley, turned out to be the window just above it leaking! I was freakin out that I would have to take the valley out and replace it.

That metal is Image II by Metal sales. The panel itself is OK, but I've never used any other. I HATED the trim package. They sent this crappy little trim cleat that bent easily and then you screw the roof trim down to the roof. The lumberyard sold it, I never would have screwed the trim all the way up and down the roof given a choice.

As far as AG metal on houses, we finally caved. I've been bidding them for about six months and finally sold one. If somebody is making money on them, it might as well be me! I've been on two in the last week that were god awful......I mean I was speechless, coming from fairly reputable contractors.

Not being critical, I just don't want to see anyone get hurt. We have a lot of scaffolding and we tend to use it more than those that don't. I don't even think about it any more. It does make the jobs go faster and a lot safer in the long run.

Is that job you have pictured a standing seam with hidden fasteners or one of the "AG" panel jobs? I am seeing more and more of the metal roofs going down on houses being the AG or pole barn metal than ever before.

Are you referring to my post OS? I agree, but I only have what you see there. :) I'm just showing my "chicken ladders" off. I'd never heard that term before, we just call em ladder hooks or ridge hooks.

It's in my set of tools to buy in the future, I just rent/borrow when I can't do w/out them.

6 sections of scaffold does the same thing a lot faster.

I use a pre-bought hook for around the ridge. When I do metal roofs, I use 2" insulation pieces for padding on the ladder side and the ridge side. Or a cushion on the ladder side. I have NEVER used a cushion to actually shingle roof a house without a ladder involved. Does that make me a newbie?

Here's the I'd. I have 3 of them. I can put one on your belt and in less than one minute, you'd be safe with it as long as you don't take it off. It's isiot proof. http://www.thefirestore.com/store/product.aspx/productId/11837/Petzl-I-D-L-Descender-Belay-Device-NFPA/?gclid=CPb8vKbXi7wCFclQOgodNgQA9g

If you've ever watched Amazing Race or other show when they have roofies descend for their first time ever, it's what they're using. Idiot proof, and designed for rescue work and service professionals alike. :)

Did I mention that I hook the ropes on before sliding the hooks onto the roof. Once they're over the ridge, I can climb up the rope if I want.

wywoody Said: Tinner, your hook ladders dont have enough of a toehold for me to ever get on one. But I did spot what looks like a Petzl Ascender in one of your pics. That is one of my vital tools. Your ropes a little tattered, though.

This is one of my vital tools. The top is bent to hook over the top of a tile. One of the nail holes lines up with the tile nail hole. If I'm using it to hold me, I use a nail, if I'm only using it to hold tile or tools, I don't need to nail it.

Tinner, your hook ladders don't have enough of a toehold for me to ever get on one. But I did spot what looks like a Petzl Ascender in one of your pics. That is one of my vital tools. Your rope's a little tattered, though.

We use all types. Ladder hooks, the new alum. w/extensions, some old wood ones made of spruce wood because of thier light wight and strength.

That's why you get the big money Frank and you deserve it! :)

Knock on wood but it's been over 25 years since I fell off a roof and I fully intend to keep it that way! ;)