advice on awkward job set-up - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

sean26 · 04-30-2009, 04:34 PM

Hi:

I’m quoting on a job that consists of staining the exterior of a sunroom, and I’m stuck as to the sort of set-up options I have for accessing the roof. I’m posting a couple of pictures to give you an idea of the dilemma I’m faced with here.

As you can see from the first picture, the roof has a 65-degree slope – too steep for me to feel comfortable working on it without supports of any kind. I considered laying a ladder flat on the roof (parallel to the side of the sunroom), and fixing the top of the ladder to the peak using ladder hooks, but as you can see from the second picture, there is no peak above the place where I need to hang the ladder. I would use roof brackets if it weren’t for the homeowner’s apprehension about me screwing holes in the roof – and besides, the roof tiles are old and brittle, and will likely crack when I lift them up to slide the brackets underneath. Another option is to rent a lift, but there is no flat surface for a lift to sit on (the driveway beneath the sunroom slopes down at an angle of about 30 degrees), and rental fees are also extremely expensive. I don’t want to pass on this job, but I can’t figure out a way to safely access the areas of the structure that I’m going to be working on. I’d really appreciate any advice you could give me. Thanks!

strathd · 04-30-2009, 04:49 PM

Secure scaffolding to fascia. Lay ladders on roof. Secure bottom of ladders to scaffolding

**genecarp** · 04-30-2009, 05:01 PM

Sean, unless you can grow wings, renting a lift may be the way to go, safety will cost what it will cost but should not be compromised. Roof brackets are an option, if the homeowner does not like the cost associated with a lift, or putting holes in his roof and maybe having to pay to replace some shingles, tell him to paint it himself..G

Patrick · 04-30-2009, 05:08 PM

Lay a 32' or 40' ladder on the roof to the ground. Stake the bottom of the ladder, or have someone hold it. Thats how we do the sides of dormers on capes

rbsremodeling · 04-30-2009, 05:15 PM

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WisePainter · 04-30-2009, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patrick

Lay a 32' or 40' ladder on the roof to the ground. Stake the bottom of the ladder, or have someone hold it. Thats how we do the sides of dormers on capes

yup, exactly.
Make sure the ladder is touching the roof 100% along the rails because if it bounces as you are ascending it may damage the composite shingle.

WisePainter · 04-30-2009, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rbsremodeling

Attachment 18249

Right clicked and saved! I am going to use that someday on one of the 30 or so forums I post at.

sean26 · 05-02-2009, 12:24 PM

Thanks for all the great advice...Too bad the HO rejected my bid ($1300.00).

sean26 · 05-02-2009, 12:32 PM

I suppose I could have cut costs by hiring only 3 guys to hold the trampoline for me, instead of the 5 guys recommended in rbs's reply. Oh well.

strathd · 05-02-2009, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sean26

I suppose I could have cut costs by hiring only 3 guys to hold the trampoline for me, instead of the 5 guys recommended in rbs's reply. Oh well.

So how were you going to get up there ?

WisePainter · 05-02-2009, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sean26

Thanks for all the great advice...Too bad the HO rejected my bid ($1300.00).

Wow!
That is pretty high for the work I am looking at. I could start at 9 a.m. and be $900.00 richer by 2.
Half a days work makes it hard to justify $1,300.00.
My equipment/materials would be minimal: 4" square shoulder brush, 1 gallon of SW solid color stain, and my 32' extension ladder.

Oh yeah, and my radio.

sean26 · 05-02-2009, 03:44 PM

The pictures don't show how badly the structure has been damaged and weathered from neglect (hasn't been stained in 12 years). The job involves far more than staining. The HO wanted me to replace some rotton boards, do some minor trim carpentry beneath the window sill, and scrape out all the old caulking from the glass/frame junction and replace with new caulking. My quote specified a complete removal of the existing stain, bleach wash, two coats of oil-based primed, and a top coat of Benjamin Moore acrylic stain. Taking into account drying times, set up, and the extra work, thought my price was fair - and there's no way I could do all that work in a half day. Then again, I hardly ever do stain jobs or wood restoration, so maybe I was off-mark on my quote. Oh well, live and learn.

If I drive by the owner's house this week and see him up on his roof with a paint brush and a can of stain, I'll know I didn't bid too high (apparently he's having two other companies give him a price).

To answer the question about what set-up I intended to use: I thought the scaffold-ladder system would be the way to go. The 32' ladder laying flat on the roof and resting on the ground would have probably made more sense, but considering that I could not stake the ladder to the ground (the ground is a driveway), and taking into account the fact that I would have done this job alone, and therefore had nobody securing the ladder for me, I opted for the scaffold solution.

Thanks again for all you help.

sean26 · 05-02-2009, 03:49 PM

I meant, 'rotten'

**genecarp** · 05-02-2009, 03:49 PM

Your #S SEEMED FINE TO ME, The safety issues alone constitute an additional $500 as far as i am concerned

chris n · 05-02-2009, 05:11 PM

genecarp
concretecentral.net

Hey you stole my former avatar

WisePainter · 05-02-2009, 08:18 PM

I figured from the info given it was a straight stain job. I guess your number is alright w/carpentry included.

Workaholic · 05-28-2009, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chris n

genecarp
concretecentral.net

Hey you stole my former avatar

lol, I thought it was you posting Chris untill you mentioned it.

Mr. Mike · 05-28-2009, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Lay a 32' or 40' ladder on the roof to the ground. Stake the bottom of the ladder, or have someone hold it. Thats how we do the sides of dormers on capes

Quote:

Originally Posted by WisePainter

yup, exactly.
Make sure the ladder is touching the roof 100% along the rails because if it bounces as you are ascending it may damage the composite shingle.

There you go this is the only way we do these jobs, unless a chicken ladder can be used.

tsunamicontract · 05-28-2009, 09:27 PM

ladder hook would have worked well. Some times if I am doing something like that by myself on a driveway, i drive up to the bottom rung of my ladder, then nestle the ladder into the tire. Holds real well and the car isnt going anywhere. Quick, easy, no 2nd person tied up.

Mr. Mike · 05-29-2009, 01:35 PM

Quote:

ladder hook would have worked well. Some times if I am doing something like that by myself on a driveway, i drive up to the bottom rung of my ladder, then nestle the ladder into the tire. Holds real well and the car isnt going anywhere. Quick, easy, no 2nd person tied up.

That works very well indeed.