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I recently moved into a new house with a flat roof, and I need to access it to clean the guttering and drainage points. The house has a ground flor and 2 further floors. The only access to the roof is from the top floor via a small balcony (6'x3'). I've attached some photos.
I'm trying to decide if it's safer to access using:
Option 1: Ladder angled directly away from the balcony guardrail and drop.
PROS - The ladder buts up against the solid balcony edge and the higher up I go, the further away from the balcony drop I would be. I also don't have to look down the drop! A sideways fall would be ok.
CONS: The angle looks a little steep. When starting up the ladder would be a little tight against the guard rail. A backwards fall would be bad.
OR
Option 2: Ladder angled parallel to the guard rail and drop.
PROS: I can get a better angle on the ladder. A backwards fall would be ok.
CONS: There's more exposure to the full height throughout the climb.
A sideways fall would be bad.
I will have someone spotting me/standing on the lowest rung, and I will be waiting for good weather to go up there. But due to the significant drop off the balcony, I'm trying to assess the likelihood of falling sideways vs. backwards.
I'm also looking for harnessing/roping options as we paid a lot for this house, and my wife would be really ****ed if I fell off and couldn't pay the mortgage anymore.
All advice welcome.
I'm trying to decide if it's safer to access using:
Option 1: Ladder angled directly away from the balcony guardrail and drop.
PROS - The ladder buts up against the solid balcony edge and the higher up I go, the further away from the balcony drop I would be. I also don't have to look down the drop! A sideways fall would be ok.
CONS: The angle looks a little steep. When starting up the ladder would be a little tight against the guard rail. A backwards fall would be bad.
OR
Option 2: Ladder angled parallel to the guard rail and drop.
PROS: I can get a better angle on the ladder. A backwards fall would be ok.
CONS: There's more exposure to the full height throughout the climb.
A sideways fall would be bad.
I will have someone spotting me/standing on the lowest rung, and I will be waiting for good weather to go up there. But due to the significant drop off the balcony, I'm trying to assess the likelihood of falling sideways vs. backwards.
I'm also looking for harnessing/roping options as we paid a lot for this house, and my wife would be really ****ed if I fell off and couldn't pay the mortgage anymore.
All advice welcome.