Steel roof "stairs" for accessing chimney -- where to find them?

Started by PorkChopsMmm, October 27, 2011, 08:15:52 AM

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PorkChopsMmm

Well, it's time to do some maintenance on our chimney. I almost killed myself on our steel roof last year and I would prefer to have a sure footing next time I work on the chimney. Can you all recommend some stair steps or "rungs" that I can screw directly on the steel roof to step on?

I have seen pictures before but I can't find anything to buy online for the life of me. I also can't seem to find any pictures illustrating what I am looking for. I would prefer "steps" that can be permanently mounted. I would build them out of wood but I don't want to paint them every year and they would get a beating on the roof.

Thanks in advance!

Redoverfarm

There are a couples of options that you might consider.  One being that you can purchase what they call "ice bar" material which is basicly the same material that the roof steel is made colored the same.  It has about a 2" projection with an attachment fin on the upper and lower edge to screw onto your roof.  Sort of like a channel broke with a 90 deg toward the ridge and a slight angle toward the soffit.  It can be cut to different lengths for the width step you desire and screwed down. But you would at least have to make them wide enough to bridge from one peak of the roofing to the other ( approx 18-24")

The second option is to mount a aluminum ladder section to your roof.  If you have a metal shop they could probably fabricate a few brackets to secure the ladder section to the roof.  Sort of like a piece of angle iron 3"X3" secured to the roof to attach the rungs via U-bolts to the bracket.  I am sure that you could get these in aluminum for maintenance free installation.  You can probably find spray paint to match your roof color from a metal roofing company to paint both the brackets and ladder.


MountainDon

I used some pieces of angle aluminum pieces; 1/2" x 1/8" stock. They are screwed to the rib bump with short metal to metal roofing screws. I put a small piece of butyl rubber flashing between the roof and the crossbar. Spaced them 12 inches apart. Works for me and maybe 50% of the material was scrap from other uses.
Just because something has been done and has not failed, doesn't mean it is good design.

PorkChopsMmm

Thanks for the help!

Don -- are you describing what is in this picture? If not, do you have a picture you can show?


I found these from Trapac but it doesn't look like they are sold in the US. Darn.





Redoverfarm -- do you have any examples or links to the ice bar? I can't find info online about them.

MountainDon

No those are to keep snow ON the roof. I'll have a look for the other things. 

Later.

Just because something has been done and has not failed, doesn't mean it is good design.


PorkChopsMmm

Is that them in the far right of the picture? Did you screw through the metal roof and down into the roof covering (mine is OSB) or just to the steel roof itself? I think I could just grab some angled steel from a big box store and with some cutting do something similar. I already have a can of paint that matches the color of the steel roof.

PorkChopsMmm

Redoverfarm -- I found out what you were talking about. Here are some I found... I am estimated I would need 10 of these or so for a sure footing.

1) Plastic, minimum order of 25, $3 apiece
http://www.metalroofsnowguards.com/Green-Snow-Guards_p_27.html


2) Clear plastic, $4 apiece, doesn't appear to be a minimum order
http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&productId=100388308&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&ci_sku=100388308&ci_src=14110944&cm_mmc=shopping-_-googlebase-_-D22X-_-100388308&locStoreNum=1950#BVRRWidgetID


3) Aluminum guards, not painted the right color or clear but they look strong - $8 each
http://www.guttersupply.com/p-snow-guards-sm.gstml


I am thinking of going with the clear plastic. Don't need to paint, cheap, and there isn't a minimum order. But would they be strong enough for me to stand on? When I say "stand" I mean use them for footing when working on my chimney. Picture of my cabin below -- these would go below the chimney in the right of the picture.



MountainDon

Yes, down at the far end of that picture there are a couple of cleats visible. Those were to get to the vent stack... didn't really need them for repeat access but I did block off the vent as we didn't use it due to a change of plans.

The screws are just into the rib as the cleat only contacts the roof on the rib tops. I didn't want to perforate into the sheathing. The screws are sheet metal, self drilling and self threading; a number 12 at least I'd say.
Just because something has been done and has not failed, doesn't mean it is good design.

Don_P

I wouldn't trust the plastic ice guards... not even as ice guards. The aluminum ones are good and you can throw 2x4's across pairs of them when you go up for maintenance. The metal supplier can also get you soft rubber overshoes that stick to the metal better.


PorkChopsMmm

I just ordered 15 of these (minimum order) and they look like they will fit the bill. Stainless steel and powder coated the same color as my roof. Not too pricey, either.


http://www.roofthings.com/products/panel-valley-snow-guards/21/snow-defender-1500-snow-guard-color-coated.aspx

Thank you for the guidance! I never knew these existed.

considerations

Might be a pipe dream, but I'd sure like to have one on my roof: 

http://www.fsindustries.com//more_info/ships_ladder/ships_ladder.shtml

Redoverfarm

PorkChopsMmm the ice bar as I call it is also known a "witches hat" which is the profile when viewed from the end. I think what you are seeing in the majority of the examples are actually commonly known as "snow birds" which is a variation of the original design which were cast and resembled a bird with it's wings spread.  Mostly to keep the snow from slidding off in one sheet. 

considerations

"and resembled a bird with it's wings spread"

I saw some in Virginia that looked just like our "federal eagle".