Steep Roofs and Age

Hi, At 41 I still get on the steep ones to measure and do many steep slope repairs. Whenever its a minor/quick repair i usually fix it on the spot. However I'm not as fond of it as i once was if you know what i mean. In my 20's and 30's I would just look up at the 3 story monster and think, " Hey theres Five Hundred Dollars Bills up there" I need to get up there and get those ASAP! lol I went to bid a repair yesterday after a long week and a long overtime day on a saturday and the problem turned out to be a leaking 750 square vent 3 stories above a concrete driveway up near the ridge on a 12/12 slope with no way to access it from any valleys etc.... I only had a 24 ft. ladder with me and it would reach on the front side but not on this triangle end over the driveway. Not sure if im getting lazy, old or just wiser but i knew it wasnt safe under those conditions so i just sold the job and plan to send TWO guys out with ropes and harnesses to do the job next week. I guess im at some kind of turning point or something becuase a few years ago i would of just jumped up there and fixed it. Or maybe it just took me 25 years to come to my senses. lol OK thats my confession of the month! lol Anyone else get in these tight spots? The customer was nudging me to fix it right then on the spot because there was rain in the forecast.>>>

I'm 57 and I can tell you that concrete HURTS!. I do the same as you only less now-a-days!>>>

It's Darwinism, by the time you're 41 many of those "No Fear" guys aren't still around. Only the real cautious make it to 57.

I'm 55 and I will be finishing converting all the valleys from closed to open on this estate. It's 10/12 and taken about 10 days. I feel it in my lower back, but get limpered up with Ibupropin. I've had ropes everywhere needed, but it's a pain to make that many temporary safety tie downs.>>>

As long as you are not in a hurry and get enough for it it is all good. I would set some scaffold along the bottom of the valleys to have something to stand on and to hold my materials.>>>

I'm 46 still gettin up on steep ones workin on them,to be honest steep ones are easier on my back then 4-6/12's but people call me nuts all the time...so be it,i love it still :silly:>>>

OS, I've got two 2x8s spanning between those 2 valleys to the left of the front door with a 2' wide plywood tacked onto them. It gives me a flat island to store things and do repetitive cuts.

Most of the time working on this steep is easier on the back, it's almost up in your face. But cutting the tile 2 1/2 inches from the center dictated where the saw had to be and the position of operating the saw. It was having the muscles in the back locked in place while cutting that did the damage. But it's not just age, the kid in his 20's that works for me felt it too. But it probably doesn't take him 20 steps to walk fully upright in the morning.>>>

wywoody Said: But it probably doesnt take him 20 steps to walk fully upright in the morning.

I know what ya mean some mornings.. :lol:>>>

http://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/show_album_photo.asp?userid=69&albumid=320&file=3409&s=54 I did this one at 49. All off chicken ladders and cleats.>>>

I got stuck on a 10/12 two story last year w/ a crappy piece of foam. Shorts on & 90 deg. out. I only went up to get a close look at the chimney as it was a small, simple roof. I got down (barely) SHAKING!

Sweating like crazy, I went and sold the job anyway.>>>

This roof is cut up steep and has plenty of age . This was the first roof job I did way back in the early early 70's in Florida . The staff including the maids and elevator operators would look out the window and try to coach me in because they were afraid for me. It got so I could run around on this thing as if I were walking on flats. Once I got my sea legs it was nothing but forever . Just had a huge sell off of a lot of the contents . http://www.preservationnation.org/travel-and-sites/sites/southern-region/belleview-biltmore-hotel.html>>>

Steep roofs are better on the back for me as well, I can still best the young pups in production (as they spend most of thier time piss-in and moan-in all day long about how steep it is). Just turned 40 and tipping the scales at 299, and can still move pretty good on the steep stuff. The mexicanos I used to work with called me "gordito chiango". in english...I thank that means "fat monkey"!!!>>>

I think mono is monkey.chango by my colombian friend was gorilla. like little gorilla was what they were implying.>>>

[URL=http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/1128967416054207268ZpTmDK][IMG]http://thumb8.webshots.net/s/thumb1/6/74/16/128967416ZpTmDK_th.jpg[/IMG][/URL] I agree with steep is easier on the back but at 52 I don't think I'll do another one.

Did this one about 15yrs ago>>>

Steve we need that video lesson soon ;) ;)>>>

I guess none of HEAL!!!! as fast as we used to >>>

i just finished a steep one last week. front was a 12/12 with 2 small dormers and the front entrance way was a 14 or 16-12. harbor blue durations. looks great. now in the process of sidding and gutters. d5 dutch lap and blue shutters. when i was done with the front i had 22 roof jacks on it.>>>