access over leanto conservatory

[Stephen Gower]

The terraced house we recently bought has a lean-to conservatory (built

1974, according to the paperwork) across the whole of the back. The garden is at the edge of this, although there is a concrete shed (with concrete asbestos roof) at one end. At the other end, there is a shared passageway, which is uncovered next to the conservatory itself.

What's a good, cost effective, access method for those regular sort of jobs (cleaning windows, clearing gutters/etc) that require getting to the first floor and above of the original house?

s

[Gordon Henderson]

Expensive scaffolding )-:

[PeterC]

If the slope isn't too steep and the roof is polycarbonate and sufficiently deep, you could try the method that I used on a friend's place:

an old wooden ladder (still sound but...)

a piece of plank with a batten screwed along it about 2/3 of the way across; the plank was close to the width of the inside of the ladder and about 60cm long

an aluminium ladder with hollow rungs

5 or 6 hook-bolts - good hefty ones - in the wall above the roof of the conservatory

The wooden ladder was placed along the roof so that it was against a row of screw-heads, the plank placed so that the batten (upwards!) was towards the top edge of the ladder

the ally ladder was put in to position against the batten

a stoutish length of new nylon rope, with a fixed loop in 1 end, was threaded through a rung of the ally ladder, anothe loop made in it and the loops hooked over the bolts.

The ally ladder had some degree of sideways movement possible, so the rig didn't have to be moved entirely to go along a short way.

Not good for steep - glass - narrow roof!