Do you use a roof ladder to access your roof-mounted antenna? If so, what roof ladder would you recommend?
How tall is your roof? Single story house? How high would you guess the lowest access point of your roof is from stable ground?
I’m a retired Firefighter, and you always want a ladder to extend at least 3 rungs above the bottom of the lower roof line. 4 rungs is better. NEVER use a ladder on the same side of the house that the electrical power line comes from the street. If underground powerlines feed your electrical meter, then you are good.
The angle of the leaning of the ladder is important also. Place the ladder on the roof with your house, place the toes of your shoes against the 2 beams of the ladder, stand straight up, and reach out with your outstretched arms to the ladder rung at eye level. Position the ladder so that you can grab the ladder rung with both hands. That is the proper angle. Usually you will need an extension ladder to reach your roof.
To extend an extension ladder, there is a lanyard with a pully that you pull down to raise the ladder to the proper length above the roof. Think of a smaller width ladder within the lower part of the ladder. Raise the ladder above the roof line, wrap the lanyard around the 2 rungs that usually lineup together at least 2 times and then tie a simple knot that can be released by pulling on the loose end of the lanyard.
Then wrap the remainder of the lanyard rope around the rungs again with a simple knot again. Reverse the whole process again to lower the ladder.
It is aways a great idea to have 2 or more people to help with raising a ladder. When the climber is climbing or anyone on the ladder is standing with weight on the ladder, there should be someone “footing” the ladder. A person stands at the bottom and places their toes against the bottom of the side beams, and their hands on the outside of the beams (sides) to stabilize the ladder.
Equipment rental businesses usually have various size ladders for rent. Cheaper than buying one for just a few times being used. SAFETY FIRST!!! Good luck!!!
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It’s a two storey house - peak of the roof is at 28 feet. Slope is 7/12 (got charged extra for shingle replacement because of it). The lowest spot of the roof is between 7 and 8 feet above ground. I can touch it with my hand when standing under the edge. On the other side of the house, the edge of the roof is on the 2nd storey, but I would gain access from the lower level, which also means more roof.
“The angle of the leaning of the ladder is important also” Maybe I wasn’t clear, by roof ladder, I meant one that lies on the roof, with a support over the peak - not one sitting on the ground, although I’d use one of those to access it. The idea is to not walk on shingles if I don’t have to.
I own a couple Little Giant ladders which are great for climbing up to the roof. I’m interested in something to walk up the roof to the peak. I had been just walking on the shingles, but that causes damage to them.
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P.S. I’m probably going to get me a pair of Cougar Paws boots.