[ftp]

Got a gutter/soffit clean coming up which will mean walking on a garage roof. The pitch is fairly shallow so I don't see myself skidding off. The problem is that the tiles look to be not much more than a centimetre thick and flat. I have in the past managed to crack similar tiles on a very old property.
What would you do? Use scaffold planks or maybe try walking on a ladder placed on the roof?

[Martin ccs]

wfp the gutter & fascia. if you are doing the rest by hand i would just tell the customer due to safety reasons you are doing that bit with the pole. if you think about it the tiles this time of year will prob be wet and those tiles are so slippy anyway.

[gr cleaning solutions]

i know the tiles you are talking about when i walked on them they were making noise as if they were cracking but when i checked they were OK scaffolding planks sound ok but could slip if the tiles are wet i would go with the ladders

[ftp]

Garage is huge it would take too much effort to wfp it and I need to empty the gutter out too.

[bobby p]

what shoe /boot are you wearing for it ?  i wear trainers with a "marshmallow " type sole, excellent grip on the tiles

[ftp]

Climbing boots with crampons.



Well, walking boots. I'm not too worried about the grip it's how to prevent breaking the tiles i'm worried about.

[Mike #1]

i assume they are the black slate composite tiles will break very easily and slippy as well would 'nt step on them not a chance otherwise you will paying for repairs

[ftp]

No, the reddish tiles but with no shape to them like some of the older red brick properties have. Quite small and almost square to look at. Bit like these only they are new.

[Gleaming windows]

If its them in the pic DONT go on them, you WILL break them.

[bad trippy]

ftp iam a general builder, please take my strong advice DO NOT STAND ON THAT ROOF.
Those tiles are brosies(spelling) they are fired from clay, they are thin and will break when you stand on em, not to mention your neck!

[ccmids]

If its them in the pic DONT go on them, you WILL break them.

break them and his neck

[Ian W]

As others have said, they will break.

Can the gutter be scooped out from either end? Then you can use drainage rods with a drop plate scraper to pull the rubbish towards you.

Could you use a work platform of some description to get you nearer the fascia and then wfp it from there?

[ftp]

I know they will break which is why i'm asking if it's possible to spread the load in some way. They are two years old and they cover a double garage with a lean to kind of roof up to the house wall. Can't hook anything over them as there is no ridge. Each end has a parapet built on. I can probably gutter vac the crud out but will struggle to wash the soffits at that kind of reach.

[jeff1]

I know they will break which is why i'm asking if it's possible to spread the load in some way. They are two years old and they cover a double garage with a lean to kind of roof up to the house wall. Can't hook anything over them as there is no ridge. Each end has a parapet built on. I can probably gutter vac the crud out but will struggle to wash the soffits at that kind of reach.

To walk on them you will need a roof ladder hooked over the ridge a scaffold board will still break some of the tiles as you walk over the board, there really isn't any strength in the tiles

[martinsadie]

defently the worst sort of tile to walk on even new ones break easily

[Ian W]

I can't see any way of doing it safely, but maybe the original builder / a local roofer might have some advice / equipment that could help.

[ftp]

Custy has just phoned to give me the go ahead. I've asked if anyone has ever walked on them. She seems to think the builders did. I've asked her to speak to her hubby and find out how they did it. Could be an arm wrenching job. Sending the missus down to Tescos to pick up a few tins of spinnage tonight.

[martinsadie]

i had a house with these on varanda type downstairs and to clean the tyop saftly you need to put a foot on and lean over,but knowing they would break i wouldnt and told her so,she then gave me the story of how the painter managed and told me how he did it,after a year of struggling i saw the painter and asked him,he scaffolded it and what she said was a load of bull you cant trust them

[leapstallbuildings]

No, the reddish tiles but with no shape to them like some of the older red brick properties have. Quite small and almost square to look at. Bit like these only they are new.

No chance.
I wouldn't go anywhere near them.
The customer may have to either accept an incomplete job or to pay a small fortune for the hiring of specialised equipment.

[dazmond]

do not under any circumstance stand on these tiles!.are u desperate for work ftp?i would give it a miss if i were u.if ur gona do it i would use an extension pole with a gutter  attachment  and angle adapter and empty gutters out as best as u can then WFP the soffits etc.


best wishes dazmond