Chicken ladders

What are you using? Making your own still? Buying them?

I buy ladders for pennies on the dollar when businesses go under. I get Werner hook sets and cut my ladders to the sizes I need. Those cheap blue, red, yellow tips make good hooks, though they are worthless for 'regular' ladder use, and are light to use. The longer ones get various rungs removed along the bottom third for balance. Long hooks will continue to rotate when being removed from the roof and can tear you off a ladder.

They range from 20' to 5'.

They all have attachments on the top rung for a quick hook up. I can and have rappeled to the ground from up there.

The tips of the actual hooks have rubber boots from walking cane bottoms, with metal inserts to prevent damage to the roof on the other side. Works with tin, copper, shingles, tile, etc. If I need to protect the side I'm working on, I put ladder boots, or cushions under the ladders.

I'm standing in a foot loop here because I couldn't access the roof from below over a thin carport roof.

I don't use them. On steep jobs, I always have a ladder at the bottom of the area I need to work on, tied off to a gutter spike or clamp, put down one walk board and just use a cushion when possible or if it's too steep/high I will use multiple walk boards. Usually short 4-5 footers. If it's too dangerous I have the option to pass and will exercise it.

Be careful up there tinner. :dry:

:laugh:

OLE Willie Said: On steep jobs, I always have a ladder at the bottom of the area I need to work on, :dry:

Amazing. I have a pic of the boots I use on the hooks.

I never work on anything that's very steep though. As a side note, here's a picture of the view from my office. :laugh:

BTW, those hooks on the top rung of every hook provide a fast, safe attachment ppoint for my harness. A bit of overkill, but I like it.

I normally just set a few sections of scaffold to the bottom of the roof and then go out from there. I really don't care how steep it is.

Ladder to the edge, 4 ft. toe board, then another ladder on top of that.

That's why you get the big money Frank and you deserve it! :)

Knock on wood but it's been over 25 years since I fell off a roof and I fully intend to keep it that way! ;)

We use all types. Ladder hooks, the new alum. w/extensions, some old wood ones made of spruce wood because of thier light wight and strength.

This is one of my vital tools. The top is bent to hook over the top of a tile. One of the nail holes lines up with the tile nail hole. If I'm using it to hold me, I use a nail, if I'm only using it to hold tile or tools, I don't need to nail it.

Tinner, your hook ladders don't have enough of a toehold for me to ever get on one. But I did spot what looks like a Petzl Ascender in one of your pics. That is one of my vital tools. Your rope's a little tattered, though.

wywoody Said: Tinner, your hook ladders dont have enough of a toehold for me to ever get on one. But I did spot what looks like a Petzl Ascender in one of your pics. That is one of my vital tools. Your ropes a little tattered, though.

Here's the I'd. I have 3 of them. I can put one on your belt and in less than one minute, you'd be safe with it as long as you don't take it off. It's isiot proof. http://www.thefirestore.com/store/product.aspx/productId/11837/Petzl-I-D-L-Descender-Belay-Device-NFPA/?gclid=CPb8vKbXi7wCFclQOgodNgQA9g

If you've ever watched Amazing Race or other show when they have roofies descend for their first time ever, it's what they're using. Idiot proof, and designed for rescue work and service professionals alike. :)

Did I mention that I hook the ropes on before sliding the hooks onto the roof. Once they're over the ridge, I can climb up the rope if I want.

I use a pre-bought hook for around the ridge. When I do metal roofs, I use 2" insulation pieces for padding on the ladder side and the ridge side. Or a cushion on the ladder side. I have NEVER used a cushion to actually shingle roof a house without a ladder involved. Does that make me a newbie?