The subject of walking 6/12 pitch metal roofs was brought up a few posts down from this one. Here are two I just did and no way could any of us walk the 6"/12" pitch steel roof safely - even with the best and softest sneakers and warm/dry conditions.
This one is in the Adirondacks. 6/12 pitch (6" vertical rise/drop to the horizontal foot). I had to use a rope tied to my belt to help me keep my "footing." Later, when I went back to install solar panels, me and a friend (prof. roofer) tried to walk it and could not - without rope. We finally laid a ladder on the roof and tied it up there. It gave us steps to walk on while installing and wiring the solar panels.
<a href="http://s104.photobucket.com/albums/m162/jdemaris/?action=view¤t=IndLake_roof.jpg" target="_blank">
</a>
This one is an 1820 farm house that had some huge dips in the old roof. Not because the rafters were bad; more because the foundation sank near a foot over 100 years ago. So, I had to shim much of it up to get fairly straight lines - to put the new steel roofing on. House was originally wood shingled, then soldered-tin, then asphalt, and now painted steel. Note the pitch is exactly 5.5/12. I could walk it safely when the asphalt was there (if warm and dry). With the steel? I could walk if warm and dry, but not safely. I'd slide now and then. When cold or wet - forget it. I finished the job with a rope tied to me - which I used many times to keep me from sliding off. This house has five chimneys which aren't exactly fun to get flashed properly.
<a href="http://s104.photobucket.com/albums/m162/jdemaris/?action=view¤t=home_1.jpg" target="_blank">
</a>
<a href="http://s104.photobucket.com/albums/m162/jdemaris/?action=view¤t=home_2.jpg" target="_blank">
</a>
<a href="http://s104.photobucket.com/albums/m162/jdemaris/?action=view¤t=home_2.jpg" target="_blank">
</a>
<a href="http://s104.photobucket.com/albums/m162/jdemaris/?action=view¤t=home_5.jpg" target="_blank">
</a>
<a href="http://s104.photobucket.com/albums/m162/jdemaris/?action=view¤t=home_done.jpg" target="_blank">
</a>
This one is in the Adirondacks. 6/12 pitch (6" vertical rise/drop to the horizontal foot). I had to use a rope tied to my belt to help me keep my "footing." Later, when I went back to install solar panels, me and a friend (prof. roofer) tried to walk it and could not - without rope. We finally laid a ladder on the roof and tied it up there. It gave us steps to walk on while installing and wiring the solar panels.
<a href="http://s104.photobucket.com/albums/m162/jdemaris/?action=view¤t=IndLake_roof.jpg" target="_blank">
This one is an 1820 farm house that had some huge dips in the old roof. Not because the rafters were bad; more because the foundation sank near a foot over 100 years ago. So, I had to shim much of it up to get fairly straight lines - to put the new steel roofing on. House was originally wood shingled, then soldered-tin, then asphalt, and now painted steel. Note the pitch is exactly 5.5/12. I could walk it safely when the asphalt was there (if warm and dry). With the steel? I could walk if warm and dry, but not safely. I'd slide now and then. When cold or wet - forget it. I finished the job with a rope tied to me - which I used many times to keep me from sliding off. This house has five chimneys which aren't exactly fun to get flashed properly.
<a href="http://s104.photobucket.com/albums/m162/jdemaris/?action=view¤t=home_1.jpg" target="_blank">
<a href="http://s104.photobucket.com/albums/m162/jdemaris/?action=view¤t=home_2.jpg" target="_blank">
<a href="http://s104.photobucket.com/albums/m162/jdemaris/?action=view¤t=home_2.jpg" target="_blank">
<a href="http://s104.photobucket.com/albums/m162/jdemaris/?action=view¤t=home_5.jpg" target="_blank">
<a href="http://s104.photobucket.com/albums/m162/jdemaris/?action=view¤t=home_done.jpg" target="_blank">