Roof ladders

[Ramjam]

We have the new version which is a little cheaper. The old version rolled up the roof flat and then you wound a handle to bring down the roof hook, not so clever. The new one rolls up the roof on it's edge with big golf trolley wheels that can roll up and over a PV array without getting caught or causing damage. You then lay the ladder down and a series of little rollerblade style wheels enable you to move it sideways on the roof.

The clever thing is the fact that the roof hook can be attached anywhere along the ladder meaning that you can have the surplus ladder protruding over the ridge rather than sitting on the scaffold at the eaves.

The super tall standoff means you have room underneath to manouvre panels and it's so stiff that we've had 3 people working on one ladder over an array without it flexing.

This ladder is engineering simplicity and a worthwhile investment, you need to remove the hook and bottom standoff and keep them in the van rather than leave them on while on the roof rack, it's big so you'll need space.

 

[solgen]

Hi Mark C,

I've got this roof, approx 7M deep, where I'm going to be putting 6 rows of panels in 4 columns. Left to right column 1 has 6 panels, column2 has 5 panels, column3 has 3 panels, and column4 has 1 panel.

I can see the benefit of the sectional roof ladders for putting the roof hooks on, but then what do you do about putting rails on and then the panels.

My work order would be hooks, rails and then panels. How do you get ladder to span the rails or don't you?

Do you have a different work sequence allowing you to put equipment up? At the moment I can only see Easi-dek providing the solution.

Appreciate your thoughts

Thanks

 

[Graeme Harrold]

The one thing Ill gice easy-dec is its a well thought out bit of kit and has the rigidity and design to bridge the paneled area. It still remains way over priced for what it is, and just cashing in on the Solar Market.

With most roofing ladders the problem you will have is the stand-off distance from the roof, and unsupported strength (span between supports). Once the roof hooks are in place, these will give you a place to stand while fitting the rails, start at the bottom and work your way up. Once rails are fitted, use the ladder to place the panels, as the rails will now also act as a ladder support.

 

[Markc]

The ladders MarkC suggested have been excellent; our roofer even asked where I got them. I bought two ladders - they all plug togethor to form one g'normous ladder which has been useful too.

We're also doing more and more roof stuff in-house and have found a flat pry-bar to be really useful. And a bricky's line. And a 115mm grinder (altho wishing now I'd bought a bigger one). Oh, and I use my kid's pavement play-chalk to mark it all out, I can highly recommend the Princess Pink!

One thing I am looking for is a means of getting that first panel on dead-straight. Wondering if anyone has used tripod and levelling laser or if everyone goes by eye..?

Eye it up. I've yet to find a square roof. We've tried string, level, lines, measure etc. Best thing is to lay a few panels and stand back and see what they look like to the tile line etc.

 

[Markc]

Hi Mark C,

I've got this roof, approx 7M deep, where I'm going to be putting 6 rows of panels in 4 columns. Left to right column 1 has 6 panels, column2 has 5 panels, column3 has 3 panels, and column4 has 1 panel.

I can see the benefit of the sectional roof ladders for putting the roof hooks on, but then what do you do about putting rails on and then the panels.

My work order would be hooks, rails and then panels. How do you get ladder to span the rails or don't you?

Do you have a different work sequence allowing you to put equipment up? At the moment I can only see Easi-dek providing the solution.

Appreciate your thoughts

Thanks

Ridge ladder works very well even on the rail. The order is the same. Where the rails sit high we secure off cuts of rail to the spanning bars of the ridge ladder and use some pipe lagging to softener it. Make the ladder a bit heavier but gives a bigger distance off the roof. Amazing what can be done with rail off cuts and one turns?

I still cant justify the price of Easi-Dek.

 

[finchy]

Going to purchase some new roof ladders, any improvements since these posts. Looking at the midland ladder co, good price with variable lengths Anyone got anything else to recomend ?
thanks

 

[Glen Powell]

Easi-dek waste of time, roof ladders not fit for purpose in my opinion, too heavy to get onto roof easily, and once up there a nightmare to manouvour

 

[finchy]

Plus they are well expensive !

 

[sambotc]

I agree, they weigh a ton and any gain in moving around the roof safely is lost trying to get the thing back off. we never used ladders when I was installing last year providing there was suitable scaffold. get the hooks in and the first rail and work your way up. They are excellent for maintenance though as you can pull a panel out in the middle of the array without disturbing anything.

My old employer has 3 set's of easi dec and 3 easi dec solar ladders! (24k total!!)

2 sets of easi dec and 2 ladders may be available for sale at a reduced price, if anyone is interested I can have a word for you.. nothing in it for me I might add! The ladders are all in immaculate condition, only purchased in september 2011.

Each set of easi dec consists of solar platform with pulley, normal platform walkway in between, safety gates with bungalow legs & 4.8's for houses and I think 2 sets of ladders complete with the stability legs which are brilliant.

 

[moggy1968]

we have also stripped off a vertical line of tiles and used the battons as a ladder. The felt needs to be in good condition though or your toe will go through it!

 

[sambotc]

On steep wet roof's you can also work your way around with a harness and lanyard using the roof hooks as anchor points.

 

[finchy]

Cheers for you thoughts - Going to just replace with normal roof ladders, cant really see any business past July. I hope I'm wrong.......

 

[SRE]

Cheers for you thoughts - Going to just replace with normal roof ladders, cant really see any business past July. I hope I'm wrong.......

Did your DIY outlet generate any work??

 

[sedgy34]

Hi all,

Just looking at buying a couple of roof ladders to install PV from.

I've measured our vehicle length and we're limited to a closed length of around 3.50m; a quick look around t'Interweb and a 3.5m one would extend to around 5.6m - I'm hoping that's long enough..?

Has anyone any thoughts on minimum lengths, single-section v's double-section or useful functionality etc?

Thanks in advance for any thoughts

i had a catt and 3section ladders from a company on ebay cant remeber there name but had a bargain good quality too and they delivered.

 

[finchy]

Yeah two conversions and a farmer although with 10 weeks left getting ground mounts installed might be a push ! Hopefully he'll consider his sheds instead we will see ...!