Uncomfortable on the roof

Teetime · 09-22-2018, 03:51 PM

A few decades ago, I was climbing 35 foot poles as a telephone lineman...but now I don't feel comfortable getting on the roof on my RV for cleaning and maintenance.

I do have some knee pads which I've used for laying hardwood floors or roofing, but I'm not standing up

Just wondering what others may do, it gets slick up there.

A32Deuce · 09-22-2018, 04:04 PM

I'm a retired lineman also. Mine is climbing the ladder, walking on the roof is no different then walking the cables pole to pole. Just don't go up there with dew on the roof. I wait till around noon!

Teetime · 09-22-2018, 04:13 PM

What do you do if wetting it down cleaning and sealing?

SailorSam20500 · 09-22-2018, 04:17 PM

I wear boat shoes or soft soled sneakers. Both are reasonably slip resistant. And I move slow and deliberately. Pay attention to where I'm standing.

BandJCarm · 09-22-2018, 04:24 PM

I'm a retired 70-year-old City Boy and I was up on mine 8 times in 2 days about 3 weeks ago, replacing coax to the dish. Just crawl up there and go slow. Wear the right shoes. Getting down is way harder than getting up, though!!!!

DaGrinch · 09-22-2018, 04:28 PM

I am so acrophobic it's unreal! I have repelled off of buildings and have gone up in our FD's ladder truck, but STAND on my RV roof? No Freakin' Way!

I crawl on my hands and knees and/or scoot my butt around the roof!

Teetime · 09-22-2018, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaGrinch

I am so acrophobic it's unreal! I have repelled off of buildings and have gone up in our FD's ladder truck, but STAND on my RV roof? No Freakin' Way!

I crawl on my hands and knees and/or scoot my butt around the roof!

Yes, sometimes don't even like being this tall

Thanks!

NMWildcat · 09-22-2018, 04:53 PM

This is funny as far as timing. I have just spent the last two days on my RV roof cleaning, replacing some sun rotted vent caps, resealing, and re-doing the seal on the AC.

Heights don't bother me, but I don't take chances when near the edge. Sometimes I'll put out all the slides to give me some buffer room.

I stopped walking on the roof when wet years ago, but when I did I made sure I had on tennis shoes with extra grip or barefoot.

I clean and condition my roof with the ProtectAll products which don't require any rinsing. So I'm always on a dry roof section.

Witch Doctor · 09-22-2018, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NMWildcat

This is funny as far as timing. I have just spent the last two days on my RV roof cleaning, replacing some sun rotted vent caps, resealing, and re-doing the seal on the AC.

Heights don't bother me, but I don't take chances when near the edge. Sometimes I'll put out all the slides to give me some buffer room.

I stopped walking on the roof when wet years ago, but when I did I made sure I had on tennis shoes with extra grip or barefoot.

I clean and condition my roof with the ProtectAll products which don't require any rinsing. So I'm always on a dry roof section.

I bought some of that on your recommendation, but now on this forum people are saying about problems with it, causes streaking and running down the sides off the roof causing etiching, can you deplane how you do it?

NMWildcat · 09-22-2018, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Witch Doctor

I bought some of that on your recommendation, but now on this forum people are saying about problems with it, causes streaking and running down the sides off the roof causing etiching, can you deplane how you do it?

You shouldn't have anything running off your roof as you don't rinse it off. Therefore, no streaks down the sides.

First I sweep off the roof. Then I fill a small bucket with water. Take it and a sponge mop or sponge on the roof.
Spray the cleaning product on small sections of the roof and sponge off with a damp sponge or sponge mop (not a sopping wet one). Wring out the sponge in the bucket of water. Replace the dirty water in the bucket with fresh as needed, same as mopping a floor. Done.

Next day I just spray on the conditioner and spread with a sponge.

Instructions should be on the containers.

Takes maybe a couple of hours to clean the 35' roof. Most of the time spent having Liz hand me fresh buckets of water. Half an hour to apply the conditioner.

The results are so much better than when I used Dawn, Murphy's, or similar products. It truly does look like new and stays cleaner longer, and no streaks down the side.

Bluepill · 09-22-2018, 07:39 PM

I respect heights. To do work on my roof I either use a scaffold beside the RV, or park it under the great old live oak in my front yard.

I throw a rope over a stout branch, then run it to a beefy work belt. I insist that my wife stays within earshot.

**bikendan** · 09-22-2018, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaGrinch

I am so acrophobic it's unreal! I have repelled off of buildings and have gone up in our FD's ladder truck, but STAND on my RV roof? No Freakin' Way!

I crawl on my hands and knees and/or scoot my butt around the roof!

Luckily, at 64 I still love heights and miss my firefighting days when we did 40ft ladders and over the side rescue drills.
So getting on top of the trailer is like standing on a step stool.

KAS · 09-23-2018, 12:46 PM

I used to go up on the roof of my old camper despite being scared of heights, but now that I'm getting on in years and my sense of balance is diminishing, I am scared s**tless

. Instead I now squirt cleaner on the roof with a pump sprayer from the 2nd floor of my house, and then I hose it off.

Dumb question: Why does the roof have to be clean? Nobody sees it. My RV service guy tells me that fiberglass eventually develops hairline cracks when exposed to full sun for years, so wouldn't the dirt protect it somewhat?

alicemerrill · 09-23-2018, 01:53 PM

Both my DH & I are retired, saved enough money to hire professionals to wash and do inspections to repair if necessary and they carry their own insurance.

JimMorrell · 09-23-2018, 02:43 PM

I use my brush mounted on an extension pole and stand on a very solid ladder. Last time I was on the roof, I almost couldn't get down. I'm 83.

Palinduff · 09-23-2018, 02:50 PM

I’m more concerned with going through my roof. I tread very carefully and only step near the roof trusses, which appear to be 4 feet across. It’s supposed to be a walkable roof, but I’m tempted to wear snowshoes up there.

rlh1957 · 09-23-2018, 03:03 PM

I'm not to proud to say I stay on hands and knees or sit. The older I get the harder that ground gets!

Nailz · 09-23-2018, 03:08 PM

Good timing for this post. I just finished cleaning my roof. I am not a fan of heights at all but since I am too cheap to pay I do it myself. I started at the front using a 6 ft pole brush for washing vehicles and a water hose. sprayed the top of the front cap with water, scrub with brush and rinse off. The roof I sprayed a diluted mix of simple green and water in about 4 ft deep sections the width of the roof. scrubbed with the brush, then rinse. Worked this way all the way to the back then I did the last section but just half the width of the roof. The very last section where my ladder is mounted was a pain, but I followed the same process while hanging onto the ladder. Once I finished with the roof I washed the remainder of the RV with turtle ICE and a combination of the long car wash pole brush and a hand mit. Then I had several beers and passed out while watching football. Roll Tide!

C

bobm253 · 09-23-2018, 05:04 PM

yeah, years ago never had a problem on the roof. Now as I get a little order I realize the danger of falling which could be fatal. It also doesn't help that its usually wet when I'm cleaning it and the whole thing moves and rocks enough to make me feel very unsteady.

But, as others have said, take it very slowly, and watch where you're stepping.

jtesta1 · 09-23-2018, 05:41 PM

Buy yourself a parachute.

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