What's better than a ladder for accessing 25ft high roof?
Discussion
I have an outbuilding with a flat roof, 25 feet high. I need to access it occasionally, and don't want to prop up a basic ladder (seems a bit sketchy, including if it slides off while I'm on the roof, leaving me stranded). I don't want a cherry picker or a permanent fixture.
What's a better alternative?
What's a better alternative?
A few options if you don't mind spending money:
1) Install some sort of anchor for the ladder so it can be properly secured when you want to go up there, to avoid any risk of it slipping/falling over.
2) Install a permanent ladder, bolted to the wall.
3) Install a hatch from inside for access.
I think that's about your lot really. There's a reason most people just lean a ladder on the wall.
Any normal modern sectional aluminium ladder should be safe but they will all flex significantly over that sort of span so tend not to be particularly confidence inspiring. Make sure you get the angle right (about 15 degrees off vertical).
1) Install some sort of anchor for the ladder so it can be properly secured when you want to go up there, to avoid any risk of it slipping/falling over.
2) Install a permanent ladder, bolted to the wall.
3) Install a hatch from inside for access.
I think that's about your lot really. There's a reason most people just lean a ladder on the wall.
Any normal modern sectional aluminium ladder should be safe but they will all flex significantly over that sort of span so tend not to be particularly confidence inspiring. Make sure you get the angle right (about 15 degrees off vertical).
Edited by kambites on Tuesday 1st April 10:35
You can get scaffold towers that are stable, easy to assemble and even with wheels, but they're not cheap.
Cheap option is fit some anchor points to the wall to tie a ladder to when you put it up. You can also get ladders with a wider bar at the base to give extra stability, and brackets for the top of the ladder to standoff from any guttering and ensure it's completely stable.
Cheap option is fit some anchor points to the wall to tie a ladder to when you put it up. You can also get ladders with a wider bar at the base to give extra stability, and brackets for the top of the ladder to standoff from any guttering and ensure it's completely stable.
RizzoTheRat said:
You can get scaffold towers that are stable, easy to assemble and even with wheels, but they're not cheap.
Cheap option is fit some anchor points to the wall to tie a ladder to when you put it up. You can also get ladders with a wider bar at the base to give extra stability, and brackets for the top of the ladder to standoff from any guttering and ensure it's completely stable.
Would you have to climb the ladder to attach it to the anchors?Cheap option is fit some anchor points to the wall to tie a ladder to when you put it up. You can also get ladders with a wider bar at the base to give extra stability, and brackets for the top of the ladder to standoff from any guttering and ensure it's completely stable.
If it's occasional access, the safest option is powered access hire;
https://www.hss.com/hire/c/powered-access/
https://www.hss.com/hire/c/powered-access/
Mabbs9 said:
Would you have to climb the ladder to attach it to the anchors?
I'd have thought a pair of bars near the top of the wall protruding a few inches from the wall spaced slightly wider than the ladder would do the job. You wouldn't want them going through the ladder if it's sectional (which most ladders that long will be) because holding up the top of a sectional ladder is asking for the whole thing to came apart if the base sinks/slips slightly. Realistically the base of a properly angled ladder on a decent surface will not move because the huge majority of the pressure is straight downwards but fitting some sort of bracket to the ground to brace the ladder against might make people feel a bit safer.
Kambites has a good list of options.
montecristo, do you have any machinery like a telehandler?
An outbuilding with a roof 25ft high is pretty high. I have a very good Hailo ladder with the "flared base", but I'd still be cautious at 25ft. I'd feel a lot safer if the ladder was anchored, and might even wear a harness while on the roof.
Why don't you want a cherry-picker? Hiring a little Nifty-lift isn't very expensive.
montecristo, do you have any machinery like a telehandler?
An outbuilding with a roof 25ft high is pretty high. I have a very good Hailo ladder with the "flared base", but I'd still be cautious at 25ft. I'd feel a lot safer if the ladder was anchored, and might even wear a harness while on the roof.
Why don't you want a cherry-picker? Hiring a little Nifty-lift isn't very expensive.
Mabbs9 said:
Would you have to climb the ladder to attach it to the anchors?
Ties should be relatively low down, no point having to climb a ladder to be able to fix it securely.Random internet pic
Kambites suggestion of a couple of brackets on the wall to ensure it can't move sideways either makes sense too, but tiedowns should prevent it moving sideways too.
The other big one is to ensure you have a level and firm base to stand it on.
Ladders can be lashed to fixing points in the wall at various heights.
25ft is kind of 'top end' of where you want to go with normal 'domestic' extension ladders.
Something more heavy duty is better, but may be a 2 man job to put it up there.
I have been up a few yacht masts in my time, ranging from simply being hauled up on a rope to using various climbing hardware.
A harness, a safety line or two and one or more 'trusted assistants' are worth having.
Cherry Picker Hire can be cheaper than you think.
It can also be quite scary!
You could build a climbing wall on one face of the building.
An opening skylight is not beyond the wit of man?
Most people simply avoid the need to get on their roof more than once a decade, and then they get tradesmen to do it.
A scaffold tower is an option, probably £200 for a week's hire at that height.
25ft is kind of 'top end' of where you want to go with normal 'domestic' extension ladders.
Something more heavy duty is better, but may be a 2 man job to put it up there.
I have been up a few yacht masts in my time, ranging from simply being hauled up on a rope to using various climbing hardware.
A harness, a safety line or two and one or more 'trusted assistants' are worth having.
Cherry Picker Hire can be cheaper than you think.
It can also be quite scary!
You could build a climbing wall on one face of the building.
An opening skylight is not beyond the wit of man?
Most people simply avoid the need to get on their roof more than once a decade, and then they get tradesmen to do it.
A scaffold tower is an option, probably £200 for a week's hire at that height.
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