Walking on steel pole barn roofs

I can reach about 8'from the edge working from a ladder, but can't reach anywhere near the peak. I hesitate to lay a ladder on the roof to stand on because I don't want to break the fiberglass peak.

I am 6'1" and 250lbs and nervous about denting the roof metal.

Any suggestions? She is a good customer and I hate to walk away from a challenge.

Mark

If you're like me, you already bid the job at a price that didn't account for the rental of an expensive piece of equipment, and since it's a good customer you hate to go back and admit that your options are down to not breaking even if you use a lift, or doing all right without one unless you fall off and die.

The only roof I ever fell off was a low pitch shake roof that I was pressure washing. It got slick quick. I never thought I'd get hurt, just like I never thought I'd get hurt any other time I got hurt, so I didn't go into too much detail about the knot on the rope that I was on the other end of. When I saw my feet go up in front of me, I hardly had time to get my hopes up about that rope stopping me, but on the bright side, when it didn't I hardly had any time to be disappointed before I hit the pavement.

Since then I've put a metal roof on a house and had a light rain start falling while I was on it working on a flashing. I'd estimate it was every bit as slippery as that shake roof.

My advice would be not to do anything that seemed like it might be okay if everything went just right. What you ought to aim for, IMHO, is a plan where you'll still be all right if every single thing goes wrong. Being poor but alive is the better alternative.

All the best, Stan

Definitely rig up a arresting harness; you don't want to fall off a 15' side wall. And you really don't want to slide all the way down the roof, then go over the side.

by the way do you have a ladder that has hooks to hook onto the peak if you do and use it you will be fine

Unfortunately a bucket truck is not feasible. There is a fenceline with a real thick briar patch that runs right up to the wall along one side.

I looked at Northern Tool and found a 24ft extension and a surface cleaner that should do the trick and I can work from the ladder. The whole get up will cost about $200, which is more then I bid the job for. But then I'll have it for other projects down the line.

We'll see, I'm in Wisconsin and it's getting too cold to be playing with water outside. Might put this off till spring.

Thanks again

-Dog's Friend