Access to bottom tiles of a roof above a GF extension

[SmileyDan]

See the image:

Untitled

• SmileyDan
• 27 May 2015
• 1

I want to access the tiles on the upper roof above and between the two windows, in the middle of the photo.

This is to make it easier to strip back the felt and apply insulation maintaining ventilation gaps. See //www.diynot.com/diy/threads/help-identify-my-eaves-make-up.435298/

I wondered if it would be easier to do it this way, because doing it from the loft is really tricky - the gap down into the eaves from inside is long and narrow.

How to access that upper roof?

 

[garethpa]

The diy and potentially dangerous way - depending how tall you are you may be able to reach the upper roof by standing on the lower roof. A couple of scaffold boards or similar laid on the lower roof would be needed to spread your weight. However, finding a way of securing them so they do not slip down the roof may be tricky.

The proper health and safety way would be scaffolding to provide a working platform. This is what I would advise.

 

[SmileyDan]

I am vertically challenged so...

I have roof hooks. If I put one ladder on the top roof, overhanging the eaves... that could work, but the ladder would need moving a lot.

 

[geraldthehamster]

I wouldn't do what you're doing. Cramming a bit of extra insulation into the eaves isn't going to make a lot of difference. Falling off that roof through not using proper scaffolding will change your life, and your family's life. I knew someone who died falling from a roof, and he was a tradesman.

Cheers
Richard

 

[SmileyDan]

I don't intend to threaten my life! I'll probably just make do with going from the loft. There aren't enough other jobs that need doing there that justify getting scaffolding.

Strongly disagree about not adding extra insulation! We all have to do our bit.

 

[geraldthehamster]

I don't intend to threaten my life! I'll probably just make do with going from the loft. There aren't enough other jobs that need doing there that justify getting scaffolding.

Strongly disagree about not adding extra insulation! We all have to do our bit.

I'm not saying don't add insulation. Insulation is a good thing: it saves you money, keeps you warm, and makes penguins happy. I'm just suggesting that if you're insulating the loft, and you have cavity wall insulation, then trying to get right into the eaves is going to make the square root of FA difference.

Cheers
Richard

 

[SmileyDan]

I understand your point and you are right to highlight the safety implications.

However I do think everything needs to be closed off and these details addressed when it comes to insulation and air tightness.

Back of a fag packet calculations. Assume leaf U=2 and 2236 degree days. That's about 155kWh for each wall, means about £20 saved per year.

Not a lot but that's for the life of the building. Also, I suspect leaving weak spots in insulation means other insulation works less effectively (they raise the temperature delta such that heat is lost quicker through the weak spots). Plus potential for condensation etc.