During the recent rain last week in the DC area, we discovered we had some sort of leak in our roof. I called a roofer that my real estate agent recommended to get an estimate, but he can’t come out for that until Thursday. In the meanwhile, they agreed to come out and put tarp on the roof in case more rain comes our way prior to any repairs being done (and there are whispers of a hurricane side-swiping us this coming weekend).
At any rate, the roofers came out today to put on the tarp, and one gentleman mentioned the roof was “basically toast.” He also asked if I knew anything about us having hail damage, as there are apparently a lot of little holes on the roof. Then he told me to come on up to see. I hesitated, then started up the ladder, which was very wobbly and making me uncomfortable. I stopped about halfway up, at which point the contractor remarked, “What are you, afraid of ladders?” I said, “Yeah, I don’t do tall ladders; that’s why I’m paying you guys.” I went back down.
I’m old enough and secure enough now not to be goaded into doing something I’m uncomfortable with just because someone is challenging me. This is the first house I’ve ever owned*, it’s two stories tall, the roof is fairly steep in parts, and I’ve never been on the roof of a house before. I didn’t know the idea would bother me, but it certainly did. I don’t have a problem climbing ladders inside the house to change lightbulbs or paint or whatnot, but I’d never tried to climb a ladder that tall before.
So, that was all long-winded background to ask the question: how do YOU all feel about ladders? Are there folks who avoid ladders of any height? Or there those like me who just have their limits? And for those who aren’t troubled by climbing any ladder, was there ever a time that you were?
And a sort of side question for homeowners: how frequently have you had cause to climb on your own roof? I’ve never hung external holiday decorations on home, in case that wasn’t obvious.
*I briefly owned a house once before, but I only lived in it about five months. A story that is not relevant here.
When I was in college, I worked in the fine arts department and I spent a lot of time in catwalks, on tall ladders and in scissor lifts. I didn’t always particularly enjoy it, especially if there was swaying involved, but I regard it as one of those things that one does regardless of one’s personal feelings about it, much like plunging a toilet or cleaning behind the fridge.
I was paid to do a focus group once and the topic was something about a ladder company and someone who got injured. Immediately I was like, “they’re guilty!”
There are ladders and then there are accidents waiting to happen. There are techniques to using ladders, and serious safety concerns. If you aren’t familiar with a tool, educate yourself or don’t use it. As someone throroughly familiar with ladders and their issues, I still managed to take a bad fall during my construction career, cracking a rib in the process. My son had one kick out from under him a couple of years ago and broke his wrist.
Bottom line, if you don’t feel confident, stay off of it.
I don’t mind ladders, even though I probably exceed the weight limit on your older, wooden type. I’ve done enough work on ladders over the years, I guess, that I’m not afraid.
The transfer from ladder to roof doesn’t please me, though. I don’t think I’ve gotten up on a roof since my dad was able to lift me there.
However, now that my dad has fallen from a ladder 3 times since he had his neck surgery (spinal fusion) and I am about to take a grown man’s ladder away for not fucking having a spotter, I am much more conscious about having a spotter now. I make my mom come watch me when I shimmy up and down my precariously-perched ladder as I put up the Christmas lights. She can give me a little foot reinforcement if I need or at least call the squad when everything collapses.
Most people don’t secure the ladder properly or use the ladder properly. Since falling can really ruin your day, if you aren’t absolutely sure the ladder is secured properly and of proper size I’d stay off it. I don’t climb them. In other words I’m a chicken.
I’m either ok with them or extremely not ok with them. If the ladder is very steady or someone is holding the bottom and I can maintain three points of contact I’m fine. If the ladder is wobbly or if I have to have both of my hands off the ladder then I might as well be dangling off a cliff.
If your roof is fairly steep, then you can probably get a good look at it even without getting on the ladder. It’d be from a greater distance, but you could make up for that with a pair of binoculars.
We have a metal roof and I have little to no occasion to ever go up there (and I wouldn’t).
However, our current kitchen was an addition to the original house and there’s a front porch, and I can get out of top of either just by climbing out a 2nd story window, which I have, to scoop out the gutters.
Place I used to live I installed a turbine fan in the roof. Getting up the ladder and onto the roof was easy-peasy. Getting off the roof and back onto the ladder was a SICKENING NIGHTMARE!
I’m surprised that the contractor encouraged the OP to do that because of this issue. I’m sure his insurance company would frown on that. Just like how the car repair shop freaks out when I walk more than two feet into the work bay. Makes me think this guy is a little shady. Are you SURE you have hail damage and he’s not scamming you? That’s such a common scam, especially if they know that most ordinary people would be afraid to climb the ladder and look…
I’m not particularly worried about being scammed on that front for several reasons.
The roof is 20 years old and we were warned at the time of purchase that we might be due for replacement.
He said after I declared I wasn’t coming up that the company boss (who is coming to provide an estimate on Thursday) will just take pictures for me.
They were never out of my sight while on the roof. And the boss won’t be, either.
These people came recommended by my Realtor, and while that certainly isn’t foolproof, none of her other contractors have given me any trouble, and I don’t think she’d risk her reputation over someone shady.
Does that mean it’s impossible for these guys to try to scam me? Of course not. I just don’t think the odds are very high.
After I had once got up on my roof to check for storm damage I was never able to overcome my fear to do it again. Luckily my wife thought it was funny and would merrily wander around up there when required. I think what freaked me out was backing onto the ladder to get down.