[Masterpiece]

Hey guys, what kinds of tools/equipment would you consider 'must have' when working safely and efficiently on exterior repaints?

I'm curious because I rarely do exteriors unless they're smaller single story homes (I'm primarily higher end townhomes/apts/condos and homes painting/faux).
However, I've lately been helping a longtime friend/partner who taught me alot when I first really got started nearly 15 years ago...He does maybe one or two exteriors a month and uses nothing but step/extension ladders along with a ton of steel nerves and creativity. Since he primarily also does interior/apt work, he doesn't invest in any other equipment but is an excellent painter.
I end up letting him work the higher crazy areas because I don't feel safe.
I'll link a few pics that vaguely show how this last house was painted:
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b47/mephibosheth03/DSCF2360.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b47/mephibosheth03/DSCF2365.jpg
He had one ladder pivot? that a friend had left in his van just by chance...

You may not be able to tell from the angle, but the top right of the ladder was in the air since the ladder was in the corner of the gutters. I was pretty much using my body weight to offset his weight against the unsupported top of the ladder.
Large shrubbery was in the way so we couldn't extend a ladder from the ground up the right hand roof gable. Also, the lower right hand gable protrudes about 6ft away from the larger gable and was about 6'-10' from the large main gable peak.
He also basically used the 20' on the roof to sit/stand on to keep from slipping and held onto the roof/placed the shield against the fascia/shingle strip and used it to brace him up and he sprayed....I REFUSE to put myself in that situation...

Ladder jacks, adjust. leg extensions come to mind, but what other things do you guys prefer, other than my favorite, telescoping lifts? How would you have done it?

Jeremy

 

[MAK-Deco]

I have seen worse...

I would of laddered that down with my ladder that would have a stand off on it. We do not spray homes like that.. We roll and back brush so we would of worked it down a little at a time and hopefully in the shade

 

[Masterpiece]

Well I should've clarified a bit: Especially up high like that, we actually brush the shingle strip (the term in the south at least) and fascia usually, and at times, brush/roll the soffit. Just depends on the house, enviornment and condition. A note: These are higher middle class homes ($200-300k which is fairly expensive for MS/TN area) and practically NONE in this region receive any primer on exterior wood, so I spend a lot of time prepping/power sanding/feathering/priming and also protect ourselves in contract due to the questionable nature of the underlying wood....

MAK, not to sound like an idiot, but what do you mean by ladder down w/stand? Would you have one extension ladder running straight up the large main gable and then have another ladder/platform running off the main ladder over to the top of the right hand gable peak to walk/stand on? Any pics you guys have would be loved too....

 

[MAK-Deco]

a ladder with a "stand off" on it. allows you to get up and over the small roof line . I would probably have to run a ladder up that other gable like in your picture but with the stand off on it it also helps protect the gutters from damage..


http://www.wernerladder.com/catalog/details.php?series_id=239

 

[tsunamicontract]

Ditto on the stand off, I would have hooked that one ladder ( i would have used a 16' probably) to the right hand roof line so that I have a safer and more stable standing platform. Then I would have taken the ladder the man is standing on and put a stand off on it, put it down at bit more of an angle till the standoff hit the house , not the gutter.
http://www.wernerladder.com/catalog/details.php?series_id=254

 

[MAK-Deco]

Ditto on the stand off, I would have hooked that one ladder ( i would have used a 16' probably) to the right hand roof line so that I have a safer and more stable standing platform. Then I would have taken the ladder the man is standing on and put a stand off on it, put it down at bit more of an angle till the standoff hit the house , not the gutter.
http://www.wernerladder.com/catalog/details.php?series_id=254

you didn't like my werner stand off I like the quick click one so I don't have to leave it on the ladder. another one I have gets you a little farther off the wall

http://www.buyladder-max.com/index.htm

 

[tsunamicontract]

haha no Mak, I like those too, but I don't think the 10" is going to be enough for his situation. I also may have missed that you included a link in yours . . .:whistling2:

 

[MAK-Deco]

I find the 10 inch works for most apps even if you have to kick out ladder a little the other link I provided is for one that is a 19 inch I believe

 

[vermontpainter]

The photo with the guy on the ladder is just downright silly. Laddering on the gutters with improper points of contact? What you have here is not an equipment shortage, but a strategy problem. Seems it would have been very simple to set the ladder solidly on the peak of the front gable and access your hooked ladder from the front side. Then roof brackets and a plank on the short roof. :blink:

 

[Wing 54]

Little Giant hast a wall protector like Werner. I have one of those and works great. Also could put Little Giant over peak of roof. for top part. With protector on extension for other.

 

[Wing 54]

I've always remembered this very important point. "It's not the fall the hurts, it's that sudden stop."

 

[Masterpiece]

Thanks for the input so far....I suggested the roof jacks but no go....
Tsunami, how would you have hooked the smaller ladder to the roof peak to the right? Using a stand off or something that would hook to the back side of the peak?
The hardest part was that the main peak you see was about 3-4ft past (to the right/behind) the interfering right hand gable...it would've been alot easier otherwise, but the main ladder couldn't clear the lower gable w/o extending it out into the street and being almost completely horizontal...
But as I said, if I don't have the proper equipment or feel safe, I don't touch it....on the other hand, I don't stop others from challenging gravity

I still would've helped pay for a day's lift rental but when the average exterior only nets around $1200-2500 w/materials, most do things as cheaply as possible...BTW, we used Superpaint on that house...

 

[NEPS.US]

What the hell was that? Go buy a $20 roof hook and never use a gutter as a resting point ...esp at a angle bracing another 2 piece ext ladder on a roof Your friend might want to stick to interiors unless he likes being in a wheelchair......:wheelchair:

 

[vermontpainter]

But as I said, if I don't have the proper equipment or feel safe, I don't touch it....on the other hand, I don't stop others from challenging gravity

You should. As a business owner, on exteriors, safety is the number one priority. You are responsible for the situations your people are put in. That was an ugly picture.

I still would've helped pay for a day's lift rental but when the average exterior only nets around $1200-2500 w/materials, most do things as cheaply as possible...BTW, we used Superpaint on that house...

You didnt need a lift there. You needed a smarter set up.

 

[NEPS.US]

........and how about protecting that roof from overspray? (don't even tell me that shield is enough) Or getting out of the direct sunlight? How much did he quote that job for ....$650.00 ?

 

[vermontpainter]

Yeah, sorry, but when you pose the question to a forum of pros, you gotta be prepared for the honest answers. Not a good scene.

Makes me feel pretty good about my exterior program. I take the time to line them out on every single thing safety, quality and production-wise. I guess its time well spent.

 

[MAK-Deco]

As bad as that pic looked I have seen way worse while driving around the chicago area. I agree there was no drops on the roof, especially for spraying, and we stress no ladders on gutters thats why we use the stand offs. Just looks like someone got in over there head and took a job without thinking up a good strategy prior to starting and even bidding.

When walking an exterior for paint I look at all the crazy areas and determine if I have the appropriate ladders and or equipment and if not I figure what I need and include it in the bid. Most of the times tho if there's something I truly feel isn't within our scope of work then I respectfully decline to bid on the job.

 

[vermontpainter]

As bad as that pic looked I have seen way worse while driving around the chicago area. I agree there was no drops on the roof, especially for spraying, and we stress no ladders on gutters thats why we use the stand offs. Just looks like someone got in over there head and took a job without thinking up a good strategy prior to starting and even bidding.

I agree that there are much worse scenes happening in the paint world daily, but the only barometer we have to gauge things against is that which we would endorse on our own crews, and this one is just wrong in many ways.

As far as safety and liability go, there is effectively no big difference between pushing the envelope a little or alot. The result is the same: not worth the risk to do something silly.

 

[MAK-Deco]

Here's is a peak we finished on Friday, no siding but I was just able to reach it on the 32 full extended and I all most didn't do it as there was 30 mph wind yesterday. Also with the stand off on it i was able to get the tallest peak all the to the left with out have to stand on the other peaks roof.

Also door is BM Aura semi first time on a metal door went all right, dried fast but was able to get it to look good.

 

[Masterpiece]

Thanks for the comments guys....no problem w/the observations but I probably should mention something regarding the pic...drops were indeed placed on the roofing after the painter got comfortable on the righthand peak, a 311 tip was used (yes, Tiny) due to the high winds that were present. Also, it's not easily seen in the pic, but the ladder wasn't sitting against the gutter but was within an inch or two after being loaded with weight.
My main concern was the top right of the main ladder being unsupported and the smaller ladder not having any jacks to support it...