Dave wrote:
The ridge tiles on my 3 bed semi need repointing!
A few tiles lost cement pointing in the storms a few years ago and were "patched
up" by a local skywalker! The repair as held so far but from inside the loft I
can see some daylight - it was not a great job really/

I have a quote for a builder and he's asking £800 to "do the lot". I think that
means to properly remove the ridge tiles (hope I'm calling them the right things
here - the half-round tiles that straddle the apex of the roof), and re-seat and
point them. The roof shape is a horizontal section some 8' long from the chimney
breast to a point that divides in two ridges - each approx some 15' (?) long
that slope straight down toward the guttering. It looks a very steep angle to me
- but the worse parts are on the horizontal

The £800 is a lot of dosh for me so I had this mad/stupid/mmm/clever (delete as
appropriate) idea to buy a roofing ladder and have a go myself! I already have a
double extention ladder with standoff - and have replace all the guttering
myself - so am used to the height as far as that anyway. Now I *know* heights
are dangerous and that care and some skill is required. However I am not too bad
at general DIY and mech/elec/wood things - but cement and roofs are not my
areas! My question is: just how stupid is this as a DIY job?

If it sounds sensible - how much would a decent roofing ladder cost - any sites
you can reccomend that sell them?

(I have done some pointing on brickwork (admittedly using readmix), but it looks
pretty good and is still in place after 10 years.)

While I've written this post in a (hopefully) lighthearted way I do understand
working on a roof is no picnic - but really would appreciated any practical
advice on the wisdom of doing this - or ideed *how* to do it.
Thanks


ps Apols if I've used the incorrect terms above. Please make allowances with
your superior knowledge.

Never mind faffing with roof ladders - get a quote for scaffolding
around the back & side & work off a normal ladder lashed to the
scaffold at the bottom....