Any suggestions

Gord Baker · Nov 13, 2023

1930 said:
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 · Nov 13, 2023

Gord Baker said:
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 · Nov 13, 2023

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 · Nov 13, 2023

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 · Nov 14, 2023

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 · Nov 14, 2023

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 · Nov 29, 2023

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

Snezzy · Nov 29, 2023

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 · Nov 29, 2023

1930 said:
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 · Nov 29, 2023

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).