I have heard of this, but have never actually seen it:
Foaming a metal roof. What this means, as I understand it, is using pieces of foam (described as the foam from chair cushions) to be able to stand/sit on steeper metal roofs to prevent sliding off.
I think I once saw an ad for some sort of pads you could strap on your shoes/boots to accomplish the same thing.
I am needing to get on a fairly steep and slick metal roof to do some repairs in the near future.
Is this for real?
How does it work??
Fess up, has anyone actually done this, or is it just another rural myth?
Heck If I know….
Replies
Roofers around here just tear up old chairs and grab the foam in them . They set their tools and even their knees on them all of the time and it seems to give them tremendous grip on really steep roofs.
This is the same thing I have heard about. I have heard that these roofers sometimes tie the foam up around their shoes and just walk all over steep metal roofs!Why doesn't everyone know about this?
I will see if I can find some foam, I just have to try this.Heck If I know....
jeez james, if you want to throw something together.....
You know those rubber mesh drink rail things, made some router anti slip pads out of those. Good gription.
Go to the bar and ask the barmaid.
tip big.
Let me know if it works..... .
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Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
Edited 4/17/2005 9:19 pm ET by calvin
Another good idea! LOL!
How about if I just tip the barmaid enough that she gets up on the roof?And what if Ron follows her??
Really, I am hoping to find a trail to someone who makes a foam sole that can be applied to shoes or boots that you already have. I really find it hard to believe that this works, want to try to prove it to myself.
I need to get around this roof, around 80-90 square, and check and tighten all the fasteners.Heck If I know....
james, do you have a ridge you can hook a ladder on? All the metal guys I've seen use a chicken something or other..........a homemade ladder of two runners with cross bars fastened to it. They may pad the bottom if working on a painted roof. Oh yeah, a metal padded hook is fastened to the top of the runners and goes over the ridge.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
It's a chicken ladder Calvin . I never liked the repair ticket that had chicken ladder written on it .
Cal & Don, I have used 'chicken ladders' or different variations thereof all this time. It's a pain, and limits the area you can work on at any one time.
This job I need to do, I need to be able to traverse and inspect the entire roof. If I can get mobility and safety, I can make this a one day deal, done by myself.
Hoping I can 'foam'.Heck If I know....
Foam works in those hard to get to places like hips and valleys. Clamping sheet metal type vise grips to the standing seams and resting the rungs of a ladder on them also works well.
STOP, DROP, ..............ROCK 'N' ROLL
Good idea with the clamps. This is a different profile of roofing, and I need mobility.Heck If I know....
Metal building roofers also use a shoe called "Korkers". http://www.korkers.com/ You can walk comfortable on steep pitches.
This may be the product I think I saw in a trade magazine. This may be the way I go.
I looked at them, I wish they had a foam sole I could use with my current shoes.
Thanks.Heck If I know....
HECK,
I think a rope tied off from the far side would be better for walking and inspecting. Foam works good on asphalt but just has a small advantage on metal. This time of year with pollen these roofs get real slick and greasy.
Two of those Green Bay cheesehead hats and some duct tape might work. :)KK
I was thinking about using a line, as well.But you just gave me a great idea!Now where are those giant foam 'we are #1' fingers??
Duct tape? You mean 'wonder ribbon'?Heck If I know....
Man, I am getting such a mental image! LOL!
Imagine: Me on metal roof, safety rope tied securely about my neck, large fingers pulled up over my sneakers and held in place with wonder ribbon, while wearing a cheesehead for luck!!
Meanwhile, all these chickens with ladders are running around saying ' the sky is falling'
I think I will sub out this job. Where's Beckman??Heck If I know....
"I think I will sub out this job. Where's Beckman??"I'm in the midwest. I don't know where in the SW you are, but all of the SW is too far for my commute!Unless the bucks are REALLY big!!It would never have occured to me that the foam would work on a metal roof. I use it on asphalt roofs all the time.Rich BeckmanAnother day, another tool.
LOL! Rich, with the talk about roofs, chickens, etc., I just naturally thought of you.
Too bad (for me) that you are too far away.
I will try the foam, having a little problem with my leg at the moment, soon as it feels better I will get this chore done.
In NM, by the way.
Take care.Heck If I know....
I took a closer look. It would appear that korkers does make a system that attaches to boots.You buy a sandal that straps to your boots, and these sandals accept a sole appropriate for the roof you want to work on.
I wonder how steep of a metal roof can be walked with these? An 8 in 12 is about the limit on a non- metal surface with fairly grippy soles.
Thanks again.Heck If I know....