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.

 

[Ken]

Buy a good quality rope .Tell wife why the car is parked in drive way and attach the rope to bumper. then toss rope on roof and attach to work belt adjust the length to edge of roof your working on. As you are working hear the auto start and notice the rope being tightened . Try to get wife's attention while removing the rope from belt also running up roof and over the other side still trying to attract the wife from driving away.
She will come to the Hosp and tell you where you went wrong in this procedure.
ken

 

[mechanic]

I had contractors looking at my roof and they booth walked around like they were on a side walk, of course their were at 20 years difference in or ages. My roof is only 15 feet at the wall but when I"m walking on it I feel like it is a lot higher. I have to get up there to seal some screws with novaflex then I hope I don't have get up there any more. Last week I was standing on my 8' steep ladder when it twisted and I went flying on my back. I had to do some work to the ladder afterwards because it didn't sit right. I will make double sure those folding pieces between the legs are locked next time I get on it. I think I will zip tie a brace on each one so they don't fold on me. That fall really put me in pain, no more. I did check into a spray foam that is sprayed on top of the roof that seal all screws and is supposed to stop condensation on the inside of roof. I haven't talked to anyone about this so I don't for sure how it works but I would'nt have to get on the roff anymore I would think. They told me you can walk on it after it is applied. It cost around $6000 to do. I wonder if it works, or should I just put on a new roof.

 

[dragoneggs]

Buy a good quality rope .Tell wife why the car is parked in drive way and attach the rope to bumper. then toss rope on roof and attach to work belt adjust the length to edge of roof your working on. As you are working hear the auto start and notice the rope being tightened . Try to get wife's attention while removing the rope from belt also running up roof and over the other side still trying to attract the wife from driving away.
She will come to the Hosp and tell you where you went wrong in this procedure.
ken

That was too funny Ken. What made it priceless is I just read your post to my wife and she doesn't get it! I'm doomed.

 

[Looking4new]

If you tie your rope off to the car, put both your keys AND your wifes' set in your pocket after you lock the car.

The only thing I know of that will stop condensation on a metal roof is adequate ventilation.

I have a leaky tin roof, too. I'm watching this thread closely for solutions other than putting another roof on top of the one I already got.

 

[Ed of all trades]

I used to work for a contractor and we were building a little 8000 sq ft log cabin. The roof guys were slipping a lot so they went to the store and got a couple cases of Mountain dew. They kept the cans in their nail pouches and would shake them up and spray them on the roof. It was a hot day and it dried quickly. The sugar in the MD made the roof sticky and they had no problems after that. Ed

 

[Looking4new]

I used to work for a contractor and we were building a little 8000 sq ft log cabin. The roof guys were slipping a lot so they went to the store and got a couple cases of Mountain dew. They kept the cans in their nail pouches and would shake them up and spray them on the roof. It was a hot day and it dried quickly. The sugar in the MD made the roof sticky and they had no problems after that. Ed

sweet!

 

[sailfast]

I had contractors looking at my roof and they booth walked around like they were on a side walk, of course their were at 20 years difference in or ages. My roof is only 15 feet at the wall but when I"m walking on it I feel like it is a lot higher. I have to get up there to seal some screws with novaflex then I hope I don't have get up there any more. Last week I was standing on my 8' steep ladder when it twisted and I went flying on my back. I had to do some work to the ladder afterwards because it didn't sit right. I will make double sure those folding pieces between the legs are locked next time I get on it. I think I will zip tie a brace on each one so they don't fold on me. That fall really put me in pain, no more. I did check into a spray foam that is sprayed on top of the roof that seal all screws and is supposed to stop condensation on the inside of roof. I haven't talked to anyone about this so I don't for sure how it works but I would'nt have to get on the roff anymore I would think. They told me you can walk on it after it is applied. It cost around $6000 to do. I wonder if it works, or should I just put on a new roof.

That is what my business does...spray foam roofs.

There should be a silicon spray coating applied on top of the foam or you will lose about 1/16 inch of foam to Sun damage each year.
Or you can skip the coating knowing there is a set life for the roof. 1 inch of foam is minimum effective thickness.

 

[EddieWalker]

I use a very thick rope and tie it to a tree or something solid. Then I toss the rope over the ridge of the roof and use it as something to hold on to. Just having that small amount of support makes a HUGE difference in my confidence and my ability to work close to the edge of a roof.

 

[bigtiller]

When my tin shed was built, the workers took their work boots off and put on clean tennis shoes while at the base of the ladder. In their tool pouch was a can of spray of some sort that they sprayed on the bottom of their shoes when they needed more traction.

 

[dragoneggs]

I used to work for a contractor and we were building a little 8000 sq ft log cabin. The roof guys were slipping a lot so they went to the store and got a couple cases of Mountain dew. They kept the cans in their nail pouches and would shake them up and spray them on the roof. It was a hot day and it dried quickly. The sugar in the MD made the roof sticky and they had no problems after that. Ed

Anybody follow up years later to see if any ants or bugs made a giant new habitat on that roof?