Any suggestions

[dodge man]

There are correct ways to use fall protection on roofs like this. I imagine it takes training on how to use it correctly though.

 

[pecans]

You may have your project complete by now. My roof is similar. I did not know about the roof jacks which are pictured above. Wow... good items. If those are not in your budget, what I did was attached two known strength ropes to a tractor on the other side of the house. The ropes go over the house. I attach myself to those. Test... climb... secure... all good. However, if you are putting on long roof panels, remember that every error is magnified over the length. You may need to start in the center and work in both directions as well. Good luck. Consider sending a long a note about what worked for you.

 

[DGF]

When working on a roof and that feeling that you are within are nats butt of sliding off sets in it can be humbling. I've worked on may roofs over the years and you never quite get used to it. The worst part is that the semi panic it causes just increases the risk of falling. In all honesty, if you are too uncomforable get someone to do it for you. If you were to fall it could be life ending or paralize you not to menition broken bones and more. Its just not worth it.

But, with that said. If you want to take it on yourself order a window washer's harness such as the Palmer product in this link ( I have used these and they are very good )

( Amazon.com ).

This harness is not very expensive and you can use a single point anchor on the other side ( don't use the chiminey or vent pipe ). Add to it a couple of good quality carabinas and you can have a piece of mind. If you use something like this tie off from the front. In addition two ladders to lay down on the roof itself help a lot. Use or make ladder stablizers to hook over the peak and take your time setting these up so they have good overhang and are solid. With two ladders you can move from one to the other and slide them down as you move across the roof with the harness protecting you from any slips and you will be ok.

Bear in mind that the angle of the roof will work against you so it is helpful to predrill the screw holes in the metal while it is on the ground. You will also want one more thing - Someone to help you.

Good luck and be carfull..

 

[Rockbadchild]

I have done many roofs and metal roof are a pain. A pain to get up on the roof and a pain to install especially alone and if windy... I avoid it at all cost... Although once install they are nice.

 

[1428v]

I re-roofed a large tobacco barn in 2019. Did most of it myself with occasional help from a buddy. The hardest and scariest thing was getting the first safety line in place—I threw a safety rope from one side to the other (anchored on the ground) and climbed up, tore back some roof, and nailed an anchor in place on the peak. They make them so you can hammer them flat and just lay the roof over top and move on to the next anchor.

Get a professional safety kit with harness and rope and a bunch of anchors. Have a really good nail puller—not a cheapie. Also, battery screw gun (impact kind) is your best friend.

This probably saved me $20K.

 

[farmboy666]

Blue Knife Link to ladder hooks. I've doe all my own roofs. some 8 some 12. 2 sets of the ladder hooks and 2 ladders on the roof. one srt to the left of new sheet, get a few screws at the bottom and the 2nd ladder on the sheet to screw it off. once you do a few it gets easier.

 

[51allis]

I love metal roofs, will never go back to shingle and have done quite a few but never steep like 8/12 etc. On the roofs Ive done, 4/12, 6/12 I used roofing jacks mid point of the whole length, a safety harness with rope and "Cougar Paws" magnetic shoes. New sheets from the factory can be quite slippery even on 4/12. If you are working from one end to the other (rake end), its best to use chalk lines to square up the first sheet and then double check every so often. What I do is just snap a line 24" from the eve end so that the line is parallel to the eve, then figure out where I want to start depending on prevailing wind (so water isn't driven up the overlap by any chance). I make a mark on the chalk line about 2" away from where the first sheet will be put down. From that mark I do either 3-4-5 or 6-8-10 etc. triangle to make the right angle to the snapped line and then snap that. From there, I snap a few more right angle lines on the roof about half way and 3/4 way just for reference so that I can measure to make sure sheets are at a right angle to the eves and so that the eve end of the sheets stay straight and not staggered. I also sometimes use a scrap 2x4 stop on the bottom to prevent the sheets from falling off the roof and you can wiggle and shake the sheet into place if its not too windy. I pre mark my screw locations on each sheet because I normally use metal over a roof deck and not purlins, when using over roof deck it keeps noise to a minimum. Most rental places will rent safety equipment and scaffolding. Take your time, those in a hurry often make dangerous situations a reality.

 

[mark3885]

Rent a boom lift and use vise grips to clamp on the top edge of the panel . Lift and lay the sheets down onto purlins which can be used as a ladder to screw the sheets down. And by all means get some help ,2 helpers plus your self . I put on my own metal roof this way , 12/12 pitch , took 4 days to cover 5500 sq ft . All panels were cut to length, only cutting was for the valleys.

 

[aircommuter]

I used my JLG basket lift, once you get a couple or even one sheet up you can also add a chicken ladder. It has a wheel on the top with a hook that goes over the ridge. Push it up and flip it over. The rungs are raised and made from rebar. Still a good idea to have a safety harness with an inertia stop reel. My house was the biggest challenge but the metal was mineral coated steel in a shingle form. It was 12/12 and 45’ to the peak. Shop was sheets with 23’ peak.

 

[charlessenf]

Any suggestions?

If you can travel back when you were eighteen . . . Nah, that's realistic.

I suffer from the fears and find it extremely stressful on a roof. On my no where near 8/12 pitch shop roof I paid a fellow too much money to do the work and he did not do it the way I wanted it done (Screw Placement). I paid another fellow to do a shed roof (Shingles). So I share your pain and frustration.

Then again, I'm pushing eighty with muscle strength and eyesight and hear deficiencies compounding to diminish my effervescent Can Do attitude when the ladder's four feet tall or more.

Suggestion, well I would watch This Old House and every 'Install a Metal Barn Roof' video on the youtube. I've found so many different methods of skinning the cats I thought I had down cold - and some of them were much better than the way I'd done it 'for years.'

Likely you are not alone - Al Hitchcock made a movie about the fear of heights - Vertigo.

While I would not recommend liquid courage, I wonder if your doctor might prescribe a valium sort of pill that would lessen anxiety w/o diminishing your ability to function up there.

The courage is there and we can do it in a pinch, but . . .

 

[Gord Baker]

About 10 thousand dollars plus to install the metal roof on the garage, there is no doubt in my mind that I can do the work myself but I am scared to get up there because of the 8.12 pitch.
I’ve tried, can get my foot off the ladder but even with the safety rope I can’t seem to get the nerve.
It’s about 19 ft to the peak and 12 ft walls.
I know it’s a 4 day job for my inexperienced hands.
The home will not be an issue, I’ve had plenty of experience climbing roofs and have replaced many of them but all asphalt shingle or wood shingle.
I’m determined to do it as cheap as possible ( I’m not cutting corners on materials) because we’re paying out of pocket for everything and have only so much set aside and the savings of doing it myself will pay for a trade that I won’t touch.
Any suggestions?

Sounds like you should not even be on a Ladder. Have it done by Pros or friends.
Not for the weak or meek.

 

[Rockbadchild]

Sounds like you should not even be on a Ladder. Have it done by Pros or friends.
Not for the weak or meek.

and how did you conclude that ?

 

[LittleBittyBigJohn]

I just had a shop built with 12' walls and 4/12 pitch. I noticed they missed a short row of roof screws so I climbed up to shoot those in. I was immediately glad I hired it done. Heights don't really bother me but even at the lower pitch I was not sure footed at all. I would not even consider trying to walk anything higher pitched than mine personally.

 

[paulsharvey]

Once the first sheet is in place, you kinda walk with your foot just on the uphill side of the screws; but an 8:12 metal roof is dang steep, and if your not comfortable with it, I would say don't do it.

If you choose to do it; please, sweep the panels. An 8:12 metal is walkable if clean; but put some dust, dew, frost, on it, and you will take the fast way down...

Edit: I didn't see you specially say what type of metal; so I assumed something like a Rib-12, exposed screw panel. If something else, where you don't have the screws, disregard the first part; but still Sweep (or leaf blower) your panels before you step foot on them

 

[1930]

Thanks for all the replies, I have not done it yet but I have climbed up there numerous times and unsteadily using a rope to pull on attached to tractor on other side of building.
The underlayment on there is good for many months.
For unrelated reasons I’ve decided to install my windows and doors first.
I hope to have them installed maybe by the end of the week?
I’m going to do my interior walls after that so that may be another week or two.
I’ve got a model home nearby that I can use for the time being to answer many of the questions I’d have concerning what local codes require and I don’t want to lose that gift.
I bought this equipment for a great price on e bay.
I trust this gear, the other stuff is getting returned.
I’ve definitely got the roof pretty much figured out thanks to suggestions here.
I’ll post pictures when I get to that point.

 

[1930]

Come to think of it I’ve got the shop windows to do so I won’t be done this week but I’ll get it

 

[Gord Baker]

A broken leg costs 50,000U$ I read somewhere. If you are that afraid of heights you should NOT be on any roof.

 

[Snezzy]

To overcome fright, be 17 years old. You can then just walk on a 12-12 roof with impunity. No ropes, no harness, no nuthin. Wait until you're 23 and you'll be terrified. (Personal experience.) Roofing, like pumping hay, is a young man's job. Hire experts.

 

[2manyrocks]

Thanks for all the replies, I have not done it yet but I have climbed up there numerous times and unsteadily using a rope to pull on attached to tractor on other side of building.
The underlayment on there is good for many months.
For unrelated reasons I’ve decided to install my windows and doors first.
I hope to have them installed maybe by the end of the week?
I’m going to do my interior walls after that so that may be another week or two.
I’ve got a model home nearby that I can use for the time being to answer many of the questions I’d have concerning what local codes require and I don’t want to lose that gift.
I bought this equipment for a great price on e bay.
I trust this gear, the other stuff is getting returned.
I’ve definitely got the roof pretty much figured out thanks to suggestions here.
I’ll post pictures when I get to that point.

Doesn't seem to be any shock absorbion in that picture. The roof protection fall kits selling for around $100 usually come with a harness instead of a belt, too.

 

[Fields_mj]

My 2 bits. In my younger days, I roofed a lot of houses. I worked residential construction as a teenager and kept at it most of my way through college until I started working as a machinist. We generally did 4 or 5 roofs every summer, amongst other things. I was only involved in doing 1 metal roof and it's the only roof I ever fell off of. I just can't get any traction on a sheet metal roof. It didn't matter what footwear I tried, or what technique, it might as well be covered in black ice. I'm perfectly comfortable with heights. I've spent a lot of time on roofs, scaffolding, cherry pickers, and man lifts. No sweat. I'm a little over a year shy of 50 now, and I'll scurry up the valley on an 8-12 pitch without giving it a second thought, but I won't even think about standing on sheet metal regardless of the pitch. If you're not comfortable with it, pay someone else. You don't understand it and you don't know what the limits of your capabilities are, and that's dangerous. The cost of the labor will be less than the cost of a trip to the ER, let alone decades of discomfort (and that's a best case).