When I removed the insulation, it was clear the solder had been pulled apart. I assume the backing strip was flush when I started, and the solder was just stretched until it broke. This is a very long section, so I think some stretch is unavoidable. Since it wants to stretch here, I think I will let it and just add some wires.
Any advice on buying a ladder? This is the top of the second story of my house. I used a 24’ before and it worked fine. I could borrow it again, but it would have come in handy a couple of times.
OMG, last year I needed to get to my second story to bird proof the solar panels. I didn’t have a ladder long enough, neither did my neighbor. He came back with an extension ladder fully extended and we used some bailing wire to add a third section to the top. I was the lighter of the two of us so I went to the top. That was the most pucker factor ever. We moved it three times and I was up there for about 40 minutes. My recommendation is buying a ladder meant for the reach, some of those gutter clamps look real nice, we used a tie down to the backyard overhang.
I have to climb on the high roof 2/year to summerize or winterize the evaporative cooler (which works great, but no one works on them anymore). I usually use my small ladder to get on the garage and then lift the ladder up to the top of the garage and climb to the high roof. That’s actually a lot safer, because I would fall 12’ twice instead of 24’ . It is dodgy when I am trying to lift the ladder up onto the garage or down again though.
I’ve thought about leaning over from the high roof, but I couldn’t handle the pucker factor.
Heh, I tried climbing up on the roof of the barn after the new tin was installed. Got about 4 feet onto the roof and decided that was a bad idea. There was just enough dust on the tin to make it slightly slipery. I went and duct taped a pull saw to a 10 foot section of emt(wonder why I had that) so I could cut some branches so they weren’t touching the roof.
My neighbor at the last house had one. It was amazing. He uses it to install security systems on multi-million dollar homes. We used it to replace the light bulb in my stairwell because my A-frame ladder wasn’t big enough.
For those that have to crawl around on roofs and don’t like it… Go to Walmart and get their 1" thick foam that’s sold in the crafting section. I think you get 2 2’x2’ pieces. Put that on the roof and sit on it. Then move the second one and move to it. The foam grips the roofing material and keeps you from sliding.
That is the type I have now, not sure I have a 26’ version though. I do love it, Just have not used it for the second story yet. Fold it up and tuck it away, use it as an A frame, or straight. Pretty solid purchase.
I have a smaller version of that and I hate it. I would much rather have a smaller and longer fiberglass ones. Those aluminum a frames are crazy heavy. Enough that I will use anything else if I have a chance.
So, I have been up and down the ladder a bunch and I keep screwing it up. I ruined a bunch of pads on the LEDs and had to make longer patches. The final patch is 7 pixels now .
I’m generally pretty even keel (I even smile playing defense in hockey). But those moments where I realized I pulled a little too hard and popped a pad got me angry.
. It is dodgy when I am trying to lift the ladder up onto the garage or down again though.
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