Would you hire this out?

Most of my rental houses have metal roofs that I have paid to have installed over the years. One downside of a metal roof is the panels are slick and require someone who has experience in walking on a metal roofs to do any kind of maintenance on them.

Now that all of the leaves have fallen, I need to hire someone to go up and blow the leaves out of the valleys of my metal roofs,...about 10 houses scattered across town. It is a simple job but I can't hire just anyone without metal roofing experience to do this job. The young man (former roofer) I use to hire for this job is now in jail and he will not be getting out any time soon.

How would you go about doing this job? DIY and risk sliding off the roof?

--71.207.xxx.x

Would you hire this out? (by NE [PA]) Posted on: Dec 20, 2021 9:40 AM
Message:

A gutter cleaner can handle this. --24.152.xxx.xx

Would you hire this out? (by plenty [MO]) Posted on: Dec 20, 2021 10:07 AM
Message:

Keep asking and find someone else. Maybe the dude will get out of jail in time to do the job, in the mean time yes I would try and find someone else. I agree with NE a gutter guy, they know ladders and a blower can blow the leaves off. --172.58.xx.xxx

Would you hire this out? (by Allym [NJ]) Posted on: Dec 20, 2021 10:08 AM
Message:

Ladder up against buildings. No one needs to walk the roof but watch out, some bozo may show up with damaging cleats. --108.24.xx.xx

Would you hire this out? (by Robert J [CA]) Posted on: Dec 20, 2021 10:11 AM
Message:

I have similar issue with the standard asphalt 3-tab shingle roofs on a Hot Summer Day. Stand on the singles and they can tear apart -- leading to leaking issues. I never allow any of my gardeners to trim over hanging brush from the roof or clearing leaves from a roof unless it's early in the morning before the sun comes out shinning bright and heats up the roof.

In your case, knowing where to stand is a must otherwise it's going to be a disaster for your metal roof. Get someone who has worked with metal roof installs... --47.155.xx.xxx

Would you hire this out? (by S i d [MO]) Posted on: Dec 20, 2021 10:16 AM
Message:

I must be having problems picturing this situation, but I've never had to hire anyone to blow leaves off my roof. Mother nature takes care of that just fine.

Anyway, if that is a requirement, then I would definitely hire it done. Find someone who had their own liability insurance and have them sign a waiver of liability against you. It must be spelled out in no uncertain terms that they are aware of the risk of being on a roof and doing work and certify that they are competent to handle the task. Also, make sure they use their own tools. Do not lend them a ladder or a broom or anything else. That way they are independent contractors and cannot claim that you were their employer.

I used to go up on roofs myself until I realized that I didn't want to fall and break my head. There's a trick to working on roofs, and I don't know enough to ensure my own safety. Heard from a buddy of mine who's an OSHA inspector about two guys working on a metal roof putting down new panels. Gust of wind hit one guy just right with a panel in hand and he wasn't wearing his safety tether. Blew him right off the roof to his death while his buddy watched. I'm sure he was a careful guy, but that one mistake cost him his life. --108.230.xxx.xx

Would you hire this out? (by Roy [AL]) Posted on: Dec 20, 2021 10:39 AM
Message:

Sid,

On a side note, my #1 electrician now has a broken collar bone and 3 broken ribs from falling off an 8ft ladder (he had both feet on the top step too) when he was cleaning his own gutters. He is 55 years old and should know better but people are going to do any job they think is simple.

Mother nature here keeps leaves off the roof panels but down in the roof valleys is where the wind is blocked and does not remove them. Those leaves hold water and will eventually rot/rust whatever is underneath them.

--71.207.xxx.x

Would you hire this out? (by myob [GA]) Posted on: Dec 20, 2021 11:05 AM
Message:

as the commercial says "DAD you shouldn't get up on ladders".

I do ladders inside a house-- step ladders.

Haven't done roofs in 10+ years. if your over 50 stay off ladders. If your 50 and under hire it out.

My gutter guy is a roofer. --99.103.xxx.xxx

Would you hire this out? (by Jim in O C [CA]) Posted on: Dec 20, 2021 11:06 AM
Message:

Licensed, insured and experienced even though it will cost more. --89.46.xxx.xxx

Would you hire this out? (by Rick [IN]) Posted on: Dec 20, 2021 11:08 AM
Message:

Hire it out. --50.229.xx.xxx

Would you hire this out? (by Oregon Woodsmoke [ID]) Posted on: Dec 20, 2021 11:18 AM
Message:

After the weather gets bad, work slows down for the roofers. You should be able to find a roofer to do that job for you. --76.178.xxx.xxx

Would you hire this out? (by Roy [AL]) Posted on: Dec 20, 2021 11:32 AM
Message:

Okay now, what would you be willing to pay someone to blow the leaves off 10 houses all located within 6-8 miles of each other? It would be a 1 day job. I may loan my blower out but nothing more. --71.207.xxx.x

Would you hire this out? (by myob [GA]) Posted on: Dec 20, 2021 11:40 AM
Message:

1,000.00 and ain't no one day job! 10 that are 8 miles apart? Blow off roofs and clean out gutters with no debris left. Do clean up. --99.103.xxx.xxx

Would you hire this out? (by NE [PA]) Posted on: Dec 20, 2021 11:41 AM
Message:

I pay $125-150 per house. --174.198.x.xxx

Would you hire this out? (by Sisco [MO]) Posted on: Dec 20, 2021 12:21 PM
Message:

Roy, if want something done right, you must do it yourself. --149.76.xxx.xxx

Would you hire this out? (by Tom [ME]) Posted on: Dec 20, 2021 12:32 PM
Message:

Magnetic workboot soles --74.78.xxx.xx

Would you hire this out? (by Roy [AL]) Posted on: Dec 20, 2021 12:43 PM
Message:

There are no gutters on any of my rental houses and no one has to clean up any mess they make. Just blow and go to the next house. --71.207.xxx.x

Would you hire this out? (by MAP [NY]) Posted on: Dec 20, 2021 12:51 PM
Message:

I would hire out unless you have some sort of safety system or cherry picker. Husband's rather young nephew who is in his late 20s early 30s just fell from a ladder off of his two-story garage while doing his soffits and completely broke his pelvis. He is in a body cast and full of pins and Metal may not walk again. --174.208.xx.xx

Would you hire this out? (by GKARL [PA]) Posted on: Dec 20, 2021 2:53 PM
Message:

I don't even think about getting up on any roof. Hire it out. --172.58.xxx.xxx

Would you hire this out? (by Robert,OntarioCanada [ON]) Posted on: Dec 20, 2021 3:22 PM
Message:

There are two ways which are if have a gas pressure washer where with extensions can clean off leaves. Another option if have good powerful compressor then with extensions can clean off leaves. The safest process is to use a scaffold then clean one section at time. So far in the house have had few problems with the metal roof where ice and snow guards hold some of the leaves. Now most of the ash trees were cut down as the tress were dying. In severe weather metal roofs stand up better then shingles which blow off in high winds. Would never ever install a shingle roof again. So in the end it depends on knowledge along with tools to do the job. --99.236.xxx.xxx

Would you hire this out? (by Homer [TX]) Posted on: Dec 20, 2021 3:34 PM
Message:

Roy, funny you mention this today. I just drove through your town this morning and noticed houses with metal roofs covered with leaves and pine needles. Lol. I was wondering if they were going g to get blown off or allowed to stay and rust the panels. Just yesterday I was on barn just 90 miles east of you, blowing off leaves and pine needles, which I have done every year for several years now. As I age, I become more fearful of the task, but since I had a ladder fall out from under me a couple months ago, even more fear now than needed. I say hire it out, unless you have experience blowing roofs, and have a good assistant on the ground. --107.77.xxx.xxx

Would you hire this out? (by 6x6 [TN]) Posted on: Dec 20, 2021 4:06 PM
Message:

Depending on the blower you have, you may be able to attach some tubing or PVC pipe to it and do it while standing on the ground. --73.120.xx.xxx

Would you hire this out? (by P.B. [MI]) Posted on: Dec 20, 2021 4:09 PM
Message:

We have a metal roof, with 2 valleys, so I know what you are talking about. We came up with a solution to clean the valleys.

In the winter we use a snow rake. It has 4 sections of pipe, each about 8 feet long. We have 2 roof rakes so total there are 6 lengths of pipe we can use.

We do not use the plastic snow rake, which is the end, but we do use the pipes.

My husband bought a soft bristle brush like a person uses to wash the car. He duck tapes the brush handle to a pipe (tape it good). He then attaches the lengths of pipes he needs so he can reach the valley tops and backs up pulling all the debris from the valleys. All work can be done from the ground. You could do all 10 roof valleys easily in one day. The best part is that no ladder is necessary.

--67.22.x.x

Would you hire this out? (by Ken [NY]) Posted on: Dec 20, 2021 4:43 PM
Message:

I would hire it out.I like P.B.idea of a snow rake,dont even need to get on the roof --72.231.xxx.xxx

Would you hire this out? (by RB [TN]) Posted on: Dec 20, 2021 5:07 PM
Message:

Helicopter. --24.183.xxx.xxx

Would you hire this out? (by Jim [OH]) Posted on: Dec 20, 2021 5:48 PM
Message:

I would have already blown that stuff off with compressed air from a wand from an air hose extension where I didn't even get off a ladder.

No hiring out required in my never to be humble opinion. --184.57.xxx.xx

Would you hire this out? (by T [IN]) Posted on: Dec 21, 2021 6:11 AM
Message:

Get a small handheld gas powered blower... DYI.

I just did a 2 story duplex, metal roof using my back pack blower. The bigger issue is the pitch of the roof. Metal isn't slick unless it is 1)wet 2)steep pitch --76.77.xxx.xxx

Would you hire this out? (by gevans [SC]) Posted on: Dec 21, 2021 8:47 AM
Message:

You have a good blower? If not, get one.

Get two sticks of thin wall 2" PVC pipe, or even better, a single 20' stick with the slip connector already formed in one end. Just cut it in half.

Hold or duct tape the first stick to your blower and do it with both feet planted firmly on the ground. Add the second stick when necessary.

Work smarter, not harder. --173.233.xxx.x

Would you hire this out? (by gevans [SC]) Posted on: Dec 21, 2021 8:48 AM
Message:

Forgot to add... this method will blow everything uphill and over the roof on the other side. If you need it to come down on the same side, add two 90 degree elbows. And a raincoat and faceshield. LOL it will be messy that way. But cheap and safe. --173.233.xxx.x

Would you hire this out? (by Ray-N-Pa [PA]) Posted on: Dec 21, 2021 4:27 PM
Message:

well can you just hose them off and down? --24.101.xxx.xxx

Would you hire this out? (by Roy [AL]) Posted on: Dec 21, 2021 9:48 PM
Message:

Gevans,

I need the leaves to be blown downward to the ground and not up and over the roof.

My method would use your 20ft. PVC pipe with a steel rake head attached to the end. With this contraption, I could just pull the leaves out of the valleys towards the ground.

I will just hire this job out. Plus, it is too cold now to do anything outside.

--71.207.xxx.x

Would you hire this out? (by Ken [NY]) Posted on: Dec 21, 2021 10:50 PM
Message:

Roy,too cold? how cold is it there? tomorrow i will be splitting firewood for a couple hours at about 22 degrees --72.231.xxx.xxx

Would you hire this out? (by Roy [AL]) Posted on: Dec 22, 2021 7:55 AM
Message:

Ken,

50 degrees is my min. temperature for doing anything outside. Below 50 and it is time to hire the job out. This is the reason I only buy houses in the Spring or the Fall when the outside temps are not too cold or too hot. January/February are the coldest 2 months here and I usually hibernate during those months.

--71.207.xxx.x

Would you hire this out? (by NE [PA]) Posted on: Dec 22, 2021 8:05 AM
Message:

50 degrees and I’m shedding layers, working in a t-shirt. --24.152.xxx.xx

Would you hire this out? (by Roy [AL]) Posted on: Dec 22, 2021 9:54 AM
Message:

ME,

My T-shirt weather starts at 65. Last summer when the heat was around 95, I painted the inside of a rental house in my boxer shorts. The hired female helper I had that day was working in her panties and bra. --71.207.xxx.x

Would you hire this out? (by NE [PA]) Posted on: Dec 22, 2021 9:57 AM
Message:

Roy! You dawg you! You should lead the round table on that kind of painting. --174.198.xx.xx

Would you hire this out? (by Phil [OR]) Posted on: Dec 22, 2021 10:02 AM
Message:

Make sure anyone you hire is insured. If a handyman falls and gets hurt without insurance- you could lose everything. --73.11.xx.xx

Would you hire this out? (by Roy [AL]) Posted on: Dec 22, 2021 10:29 AM
Message:

Phil,

Most of the people I hire for low-end grunt work in Class C & D hoods (painting, cleaning houses, moving junk to the curb during an eviction) are not insured and they get paid only in cash. This is the reason I do a lot of babysitting with my low-end hired help to keep them from doing something stupid that could cause an injury. "No,..you can't use my chainsaw to cut those fallen tree limbs with, I will do that job myself". This is also the reason I would never hire any of them to blow leaves off the roof of a house.

I had a talk with my handyman this morning and he said he would blow the leaves off. I use to hire his helper for this job but his helper is in prison now. --71.207.xxx.x

Would you hire this out? (by RB [MI]) Posted on: Dec 22, 2021 2:35 PM
Message:

Right turn Clyde. --24.183.xxx.xxx

Would you hire this out? (by Ken [NY]) Posted on: Dec 22, 2021 4:19 PM
Message:

Roy,95 degrees and i have to be in air conditioning,i just cantdeal with it anymore but i can stay outside at 0 degrees if necessary. --72.231.xxx.xxx

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