Roof exit: arrangement options

The need to go directly to the roof does not arise every day, of course, but quite often. It is necessary to inspect the condition of the roof, remove the piled snow, check the chimney, clean the gutters … How can you arrange a safe exit to the roof of a private house?

The easiest way to provide access to the roof is a ladder. It can be wooden, hammered from boards and timber with your own hands. The owner of the house can also weld a ladder from pipes and a metal profile himself. A finished three-section ladder made of aluminum will cost you about 5.5 thousand rubles.

Important! A ladder located directly on the roof should serve as an addition to the ladder that will allow you to climb the facade. Firstly, it will ensure the safety of movement on an inclined roof, and secondly, it will not damage the roof covering.

Roof ladders, that is, located directly on the slopes, can be:

• Stationary, attached, welded to the ridge, be part of the cover itself;
• Or mobile, which can be moved along the roof to the site of the audit. Mobile roof ladders can also be wooden or metal, their difference is the bend, the presence of elements that hook on the ridge.

The second option is quite simple to provide access to the roof – a stationary ladder. This is a metal staircase that is attached to the facade..

Important! To ensure the safety of children, the staircase on the facade must rise at least one meter above the ground. Kids will not be able to climb the roof, and adults can easily substitute a small portable ladder or just a bench, a stool to climb.

The stairs attached to the facade are traditionally metal, they can also be welded by hand. They are securely attached to the facade of the house with anchors. Again, they should be complemented by a staircase located directly on the roof..

The third option is to provide yourself with access to the roof – a hatch. As a matter of fact, it can serve as a kind of anti-aircraft lantern, which we have already written about. Such a hatch often simultaneously serves as a window in the attic or attic and as an exit allowing the owner to get out onto the roof. Ready-made transparent hatches are not that expensive – about 2.5 thousand rubles. Just plastic, which does not transmit light, is even cheaper. But installing them in the roof will require additional costs and efforts, because you will have to waterproof all joints, ensure the reliability of the entire coating.

In addition, the hatch is accessed through the attic or attic. That is, two ladders will be required – one under the roof, the second – to the hatch itself. But an emergency exit will appear in the house, which is important in the event of a fire. And an additional hole for ventilation of the attic or attic, which is also convenient. So the sunroof has a lot of advantages.

Important! If the house has a chimney, then it will be advisable to place the hatch closer to it, but not close to it due to fire safety requirements. A hatch next to the pipe will allow you to easily and quickly check its condition, without moving along the roof slope.

Installation of a hatch in an already finished roof is associated with difficulties and interference in the project of the rafter system, it would be advisable to resort to the help of specialists.

The sunroof can be replaced by a roof window that opens completely and allows an adult to get out. Or a comfortable attic balcony. But this is possible, of course, only if there is the attic itself in a private house..

Remember the fire escapes on the facades of many skyscrapers? Or connecting the balconies of apartment buildings? If you wish, if your private house has a balcony, you can take the stairs to the roof from it. It won’t decorate the facade, we agree. And the functionalism of the balcony can be violated. That is why this solution cannot be called popular, despite the practicality and ease of access to the roof..

Exit to a flat roof is quite another matter. For auditing, this is the safest option. In addition, flat roofs are usually operated by owners, so a convenient exit should be a priori. It can be the same hatch, simply built into the flat roof, a built-in booth that protects the exit, as well as a full-fledged doorway.

Whatever the stairs and exits to your roof, the main thing is that they remain comfortable and safe. This is the most important factor in the selection and arrangement..