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Conroe, Texas
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[#1] Posted: Feb 28 2006 - 5:46:17 PM |  |  |
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I use to be a stern opponent of walking roofs. I'm still not crazy about walking them, but since I've started walking more and more, I'm finding more and more!
I didn't walk the roof of the home in the pic below. My LG wouldn't reach the roof. However, I had a bad feeling about the tree at the side of the home and scheduled another of my inspectors to look at it two days later.
Good thing I did. How would you have worded your statement if you hadn't walked this roof? I feel it would have been a cop out to simply state "Didn't walk roof due to height, have a roofing specialist further evaluate this roof"
Donald
This bad boy was sounding all kinds of alarms...
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Glad I have an inspector with a 28ft ladder!
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Sometimes I wonder if I pay him enough...
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This is all I could see from the ground....
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Moody, Maine
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Why I'm walking more roofs lately....
[#2] Posted: Feb 28 2006 - 6:22:40 PM | | |
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I try to walk every roof.I usually get on 95% of them.Sometimes if I can't get on a roof I try to find a high spot and set up my ladder and use my binoculars. I have even set my ladder up next to tree and used it to get in the tree and look from there.But even with real good binoculars,which I have, I think there is real potential to miss something.One in a while I find no way to see the roof and boy to I hate that.
John Callan
www.customizedhomeinspections.com
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Columbus, Mississippi
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Why I'm walking more roofs lately....
[#3] Posted: Feb 28 2006 - 6:29:07 PM | | |
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So Donald, you want to see round 473 of the roof walking debate? 
I've always walked all I could, and a few I shouldn't have. Both kinds were learning experiences.
I Walk The Line (HI version)
I keep a close watch on these feet of mine,
I keep my eyes wide open all the time,
I keep my hands free so I can grab a vine,
Because you're mine(client), I take the time
MMMMMMmmmmmmmmm......
I find it very, very easy to walk slow,
This is one thing you sure don't want to blow,
One wrong move here and brother down you go,
Because you're mine(client), I walk the line
Brian G.
The HI in Black 
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Chicago, IL
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Why I'm walking more roofs lately....
[#4] Posted: Feb 28 2006 - 6:56:59 PM | | |
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Damn Brian, that's so good I'm gonna steal it & tell everyone I wrote it! 
Yeah, don't want to start up the cyclical debate, but, for the record.....
I walk on every roof.
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Kurt in Chicago
Workin' the Inner City
"Things are more like they are now than they ever have been before"
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Kenmore, WA
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Why I'm walking more roofs lately....
[#5] Posted: Feb 28 2006 - 8:59:07 PM | | |
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I'm surprised time and time again how much I see when I get up close and walk 'em - things that I just can't see from the ground.
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Randy Navarro
http://www.thecompleteinspection.com |
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Columbus, Mississippi
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Why I'm walking more roofs lately....
[#6] Posted: Feb 28 2006 - 10:05:47 PM | | |
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More....
So many defects up there to be found,
Construction that looks anything but sound,
And shingles that look like they've been ground,
I'm so sublime, I make the climb
MMMMMMMmmmmmmmm........
Don't let your silly self get crazy-bold,
The ground is plenty hard or so I'm told,
I sure as hell hope those gutter spikes can hold,
But there's still time, to grab for Pine
Brian G.
Call Me Butter 'Cause I'm on a Roll 
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Austin, Texas
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Why I'm walking more roofs lately....
[#7] Posted: Mar 01 2006 - 07:39:12 AM | | |
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Donald, when did you start walking Austin roofs? That tree damage looks familiar.
Brian, I'm jealous! You have such a way with words. 
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Paul in Austin
www.newdayinspections.com |
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Cartersville, GA
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Why I'm walking more roofs lately....
[#8] Posted: Mar 01 2006 - 08:41:08 AM | | |
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I walk every roof 8/12 and under, if'n my ladder will get me up there --- Usually save my clients money by going up there.
I'm not buying a longer ladder than my 24' extension.
I'd rather walk a roof than crawl a crawl any day.
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Conroe, Texas
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Why I'm walking more roofs lately....
[#9] Posted: Mar 01 2006 - 11:58:35 AM | | |
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Well Bob, I'd rather crawl! I hate heights!
I don't walk every roof, however, if I can't see the entire roof from the ground, I start getting worried.
Take for example this 1 year old roof, I couldn't see one side and then I found two fresh cut tree stumps on the side I couldn't see.
So up I went.....
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Needless to say, I felt I'd done my job!!
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Donald Lawson
www.best2inspect.com
Houston Texas
What they truly don't understand is the principle so eloquently stated by Abraham Lincoln: "You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong. You cannot help the wage-earner by pulling down the wage-payer. You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich. You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves." |
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Lexington, KY
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Why I'm walking more roofs lately....
[#10] Posted: Mar 01 2006 - 4:42:14 PM | | |
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I've seen loads of flubs from the roof top that never could've been spotted from the ground. And . . . I think clients feel better paying my semi-outrageous fees when they know I've risked tumbling off a roof--along with all else--to protect their interests.
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Midlothian, VA
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Why I'm walking more roofs lately....
[#11] Posted: Mar 01 2006 - 5:00:21 PM | | |
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Bain,
I don't know if you mentioned it or not but the shingles in that photo have way too much reveal. It's called "high nailing" and as a disaster restoration contractor, I had to deal with the consequences of such an installation a lot. Insurance companies would usually try to go after the installer to recoup their money if they can. The nails won't catch the top edge of the shingles which puts too much stress on the sealed shingle tap and the tabs will eventually start cracking across their length. That is much of why they are blowing off and flipping up. Any time you can see the top of the key of the shingle it's a problem. 5" maximum reveal.
Bad job altogether. String up the installer!
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Lexington, KY
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Why I'm walking more roofs lately....
[#12] Posted: Mar 01 2006 - 5:11:09 PM | | |
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Not to worry. He was properly busted. 'Course nothing was done about it due to the expense. Seller said, "No," and the buyer decided to roll the dice.
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Midlothian, VA
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Why I'm walking more roofs lately....
[#13] Posted: Mar 01 2006 - 5:50:02 PM | | |
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Good for you! Well, done!
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Cincinnati, OH
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Why I'm walking more roofs lately....
[#14] Posted: Mar 01 2006 - 6:49:58 PM | | |
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I have a dilema.. I hate hieghts but I can't resist the adreneline rush. That stuff should be illegal. Getting on is usually easy, it's the getting off that can get you. .
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Mike G.
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Reynoldsburg, OH
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Why I'm walking more roofs lately....
[#15] Posted: Mar 01 2006 - 7:34:30 PM | | |
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I think I have mentioned this before.
You all know I'm a truss designer right now. I swear I have at least 1 guy "burn in" off a roof a month, be it installation, repair or maintenance. Watch yourselves, please.
Jeff
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Columbus, Mississippi
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Why I'm walking more roofs lately....
[#16] Posted: Mar 01 2006 - 8:45:43 PM | | |
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For walking on I love the older houses around here, from about the 40's forward through the 70's. We don't get snow and steep wasn't in style yet, so they were sloping them down at 4 or 5 in 12. Some of 'em I could play Frisbee on, just run all over the place. 
Brian G.
Former Frisbee Freak 
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Midlothian, VA
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Why I'm walking more roofs lately....
[#17] Posted: Mar 02 2006 - 12:32:55 AM | | |
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Well, for what it's worth, as a mason before home inspecting, I concluded that OSHA was not realistic about ladder set up! A ladder that is extented several feet past the edge of the roof is a nightmare to get around and mount. You feel like you'll fall for sure because you're off balance!
I only extend the ladder about 18" past the edge.
The benefits:
1.) I may go directly over the top and and onto the roof, which is a cinch.
2.) When mounting, from a side seated position I may cautiosly ease myself directly over and onto the ladder which permits one to stay centered throughout the entire process.
3.) My first step onto the ladder is a good two feet down from the edge allowing me to also pinch the ladder and gutter together for stability
4.) It permits me to not transfer full weight to the ladder until I'm convinced it is safe to do so.
Maybe I'm just crazy, but I just loath the feeling of leaning around a ladder at the top of a downtown row house. I'd rather go over a ladder than around it any day!
Now if you're securely lashing your ladder to the roof or gutter then it's safe to push, pull and lean as you transfer weight to a ladder with no real sense of center or balance until you're fully on the ladder.
Sigh... The ladder is one piece if equipment everyone must make their own peace and find harmony with.
Caution! The views expressed in this post do not reflect upon the management, the web hosting service, their employees or agents, and the author's employers etc., Etc., Etc., Furthermore the author "to the best of his recollection" has no memory of having ever written it. :-D
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Charlestown, Massachusetts
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Why I'm walking more roofs lately....
[#18] Posted: Mar 02 2006 - 10:57:10 AM | | |
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I'm a self-righteous ladder monkey, I know, but anyone who works on a ladder every day (like me) is crazy if they don't have a ladder brace at the top of it. They cost $20 and provide a lot of safety.
Roof climbing is important, but it aint worth dying for,
Jim
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Mount Pleasant, SC
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Why I'm walking more roofs lately....
[#19] Posted: Mar 02 2006 - 11:47:09 AM | | |
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Roof climbing is important, but it aint work dying for,
TOO TRUE...
But you could tell from pic one (in the thread start) that roof was going to have endured alot of physical damage! It needed to be walked...
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-Mike
www.atozinspector.com |
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Walpole, MA
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Why I'm walking more roofs lately....
[#20] Posted: Mar 04 2006 - 3:22:00 PM | | |
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I walk many. But the more I do this, the more I ask "..is it worth the trip?". In other words, could this all have been figured out easier without having had to get on that roof? Roof mount does help you with referrals (new guys). Many chimney issues are only verifiable from the top looking down and if you have a digital cam shot in your report of that stuff, you are a notch-up on the guys who won't go up there and don't use the cam.
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Kenmore, WA
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Why I'm walking more roofs lately....
[#21] Posted: Mar 04 2006 - 4:54:28 PM | | |
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I walk 'em all unless the pitch is just to steep for me to get up at the valleys. The number of times that roofs looked great from the ground and turned out to have significant issues once I got up onto them is probably better than 50%. That's enough to convince me I need to do it, but that's only me. Walking roofs is a personal decision. Nobody can make it for you and if you gut tells you not to make the climb - don't.
OT - OF!!!
M.
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Columbus, Mississippi
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Why I'm walking more roofs lately....
[#22] Posted: Mar 04 2006 - 10:34:55 PM | | |
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Originally posted by hausdok
Nobody can make it for you and if you gut tells you not to make the climb - don't.
That reminds me of the philosophy of the kayakers I used to paddle with. If you looked at a rapid and your gut said "don't", you didn't; no stigma attached.
Brian G.
Still Here to Talk About It, So the Gut Must Know Something 
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Georgetown, KY
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Why I'm walking more roofs lately....
[#23] Posted: Mar 14 2006 - 1:38:45 PM | | |
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Some recent "couldn't see from the ground" stuff.
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Why do they always crack on the topside.
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No ceiling stains noted, yet.
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Erby Crofutt
B4U Close Home Inspections
Georgetown, KY
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Why I'm walking more roofs lately....
[#24] Posted: Mar 14 2006 - 3:51:18 PM | | |
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Mr. 18" Midlothian... that practice of yours is gonna cause you a problem some day... Go for more ladder above the roof. "Three point' grab/footing works.
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Why I'm walking more roofs lately....
[#25] Posted: Mar 14 2006 - 3:54:48 PM | | |
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"Couldn't see from the ground" stuff from this morning's gig. And if you're wondering why the ridge shingles don't match the others, I haven't a clue.
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Midlothian, VA
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Why I'm walking more roofs lately....
[#26] Posted: Mar 14 2006 - 4:02:37 PM | | |
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"Hey, how'd this plumbing vent collar end up in the back of my truck?" said the roofer when he got home for the evening.
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Why I'm walking more roofs lately....
