Building Homes or Extensions/Roof Access

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Expert: - 9/28/2010


Question

Roof
You may not be the best fit for this question, but I'm at a loss for an answer. I'm trying to find a safe means for anyone to gain access to my second story gutter in the front of my house. The front porch extends too far out, thus preventing a ladder from reaching from the ground to the roof. The slope of the roof makes it dangerous to access from the rear. The slope of the front porch roof seems to make it dangerous to place anything on that roof to gain access to the second story. I'm not 6'6", so I can't crawl out the bedroom window and reach the gutter above. Removing leaves from the gutter is bad enough, but attempting a do-it-yourself install of gutter covers is seemingly impossible. Most professionals (handyman and satellite dish installers) refuse to get on my roof at all because of the height and slope. I'd appreciate any idea including thoughts on purchasing any hardware item to accomplish the task.

Answer
Hi Jim, somebody had to have had access to install the gutters and the roof to begin with.  From your photo I can't tell if there is a street in front of the house or a yard or what kind of access you have but anyone with a bucket truck (tree trimming companies) can easily reach the area in question.  Also, most tool rental companies have aerial lifts of all sizes to reach hard to get at places.

Roofing and construction companies use rigging equipment that allows men to walk on steep roofs wearing harnesses with lanyards that are tied off to a point on the roof or points on the ground to keep whoever is on the roof from falling off.  This is the most common method other than an aerial lift for working on roofs.

So I guess the question back to you is, "who have you been talking to to get the work done?"  Roofing companies, gutter companies, tree trimming companies all have available means to access this area.  If it's gutter guard you want installed have a gutter company come out and install it.  Handymen won't get up there because they don't have the equipment, find the right company with the right equipment to get the job done.  It may cost a few bucks but the work will be done right and done safely.  And always insist that the person doing the work is licensed and insured to protect yourself in case there is an accident.  I hope this information helps, please feel free to write again regarding this or other matters, sincerely bruce e johnson

Bruce E. Johnson

Expertise

I can answer any construction related question in regards to carpentry, concrete, drywall, masonry, structural elements of any type of building, residential or commercial. Interior or exterior.

Experience

Custom Commercial and residential buildings. Churches, theaters, schools and auditoriums. Most recently I am working with the Catholic Church on several design build committees. I have a website related to scheduling and project supervision. Although my expertise is more related to multimillion dollar commercial, educational and theatrical projects my generous credentials in residential and remodelling construction make me a viable source of information regarding all forms of building questions.

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