ToughButterCup

Here's the promised piccies. A general view - you can see the problem area because its (the cracked tile) above part of the house that we have not underboarded with 100mm of insulation yet (already 200 between joists) : all the ice on the roof has melted and the roof has started to dry off - but the rest on the North face is still iced up. The south face (out of sight) is already dry and almost hot to touch. A bit closer in reveals that the broken tile is smack in the middle of the dry patch, right on the ridge over 2 meters in from the edge of the house. The part of the roof on the right - in bright sunlight - was appreciably warm to the touch. You can also see how close the solar panels are. It was so nice up there, I took this photo facing East towards the M6 - which is just out of sight. For a few days during the first Lockdown we had an Osprey fishing in that - now iced - pond: he flew past me (working on the roof) at head height, completely unconcerened. Now for the bad news. Reaching down to the cracked tile was easy: " Assume the position and push, lad " an old instructor used to hiss while we were shivvering with fear and training to parachute from balloons. Flat on my tummy, head shoulders chest out of the basket. Praying that Debbie wasn't watching me hang out of the basket over the roof. She was. ? That tile will be out in a few seconds, I thought. Shove hard upwards. You're probably there before me ... all I did was displace the basket (to the left in this case) by an amount equal and opposite to the effort I put into the shove. Bastard. Newton's Third Law innit. Bummer. Again, harder. Same thing Hang on to the ridge with one hand shove the tile with the other. There are times when I wish I was built with shoulders like an American Oarsman, but my upper body strength isn't what it was - and I never was that strong. It is such an easy job off a scaffold. Two hands, push up on the bottom of the tile, it pops out of its clips, throw the bits away (satisfying smash sounds - tom cat goes haring off into the hedge) and replace with the new one thats in the bag you take up with you. Down. Tea. Biscuit. Think. Pop out to the stillage, get some DPM, lead and lead-replacement , a hammer a knife and some snips . Back up. Will the lead get under the crack? Will it heck. Will the lead replacement get under the crack. Nope. 30 second job to shove the DPM under the crack and cut to size. What have I learned, what's still puzzling and what's next? If you are operating 6 meters up and 3 meters to the side of the CofG of a cherry picker, the basket sways (almost as much as a microlight in a gale). If you are working across yourself (pushing sideways) the basket will duplicate the opposite of that movement. The problem may still have two sources : a rip in the felt ( a split tile shouldn't on its own give rise to a leak) and the cracked tile Hire a cherry picker with proportional controls. In nil wind, I could put the basket almost exatly where I wanted to with ease (and no training). Proportional control means that inputs to the control levers gives proportional output. A gentle smooth nudge means gentle movement. Gross input means larger movements. Why did the tile crack at all? Hmmm ? Temperature contrast? Its not underboarded below crack ( see image above) . Osprey crapping on it? Maybe the felt is touching the insulation between the joists and the water is wicking through the felt to the surface foil on the insulation - and dribbling downhill? Whats next? Design a proper roof ladder for this house, build, test and use along the lines suggested by Ed ( see earlier post in this thread) Buy 4 long scaff poles to use as vertical struts (adapt diagonal braces?) thanks @Construction Channel , so I can brace the scaffolding firmly so it doesn't move away from the side of the house. What have I missed?

Good news first , or the bad?

I doubt it. And even if they were, I'd be the one who drops a sharp pointed screwdriver on one ......

We have compacted MOT1. I take your point about reaching across to do a job, thanks. I'll take it slowly : maybe do a couple of other jobs lower down first to get used to it. I certainly won't be taking it out or up as far as the spec will allow. Yes @epsilonGreedy it looks a bit Dr Who-ish dunnit?

The points made above are good. The machine's vertical reach is 10 meters (platform height) I need 5, and about 2 meters laterally. The machine offers 6 meters reach laterally. This is one instance where I will be wanting to operate well within the machine's capability: and the wind forecast is about as good as you can expect. I take your point Dave about bounce. I'll take a few tiles up with me ?

£140 plus bells and whistles...... per day

That got to you didn't it? The lady in question walked past with her dog in tow the other day. Poor thing is still traumatised.

Well wad'ya know: a knight in shining armour has just popped in. Man wiv Sherree PiKa. He came to pick up the ladder. Looking at the job he suggested that I could be let loose on a tracked one (T135) While I'm up there, I can feel a couple of other little jobs coming on..... I mean, like Ed ( @Construction Channel ) says Wot could go wrong? Only one more sleep until I get to play with this........ Christmas reinvented. Photos while I'm up there ... good weather forecast too.

There's a good deal about lighting design on this site .... The search section of this site is very powerful. This is what I came up withy to help you start.

PM sent Gary.......

25 degrees , 2 storeys - guess broken tile is at 5m agl..... access easy all the way round the house

Dry ridge. The ridge isn't the issue, though: its how to get safely to the tile that needs to be replaced.

By now, I can throw a scaffold up in a morning : safe, level and built with an eye to making it easier to take down. Roof ladder delivered Monday. So far so good. But, as is the way with stuff I do, the first thing I manage to bugger up is breaking a tile - one thats right next to the gutter and 100 mm above the scafffold platform on which I'm standing. Unaccountably, I just picked my foot up and put it on the tile. The outrage I felt when it cracked. How dare it! So now there are two to replace. Eeeeejit. Heave the roof ladder up and wheel it gingerly to the roof ridge, and roll it over so the hooks on the other side. And just then, just at that moment, I start feeling uneasy. But pleased - success afterall innit - roof ladders in place ? Over the years I have come to trust that 'feeling' Sheeeet. The other side of the roof is full of solar panels, some very close to the ridge. Off the platform, shoot down the scaff ladder , scoot round to where I can see the hook - and sure enough the ladder hook is resting on one of the solar panel. Ferkety Ferkety Fookety fook. I haven't put any weight on the ladder. Here, look at this: the cracked tile I need to mend is marked in red. Can't take a joke? Don't self build. Wot's to be done folks? (Hired roof ladder on its way back already)

Oooooofffff. Hard work indeed,

That's a good result. Jezza of Blessed Memory said it took him about a fortnight of fiddling about with his settings.

You bad man. Very bad. Poo.

It does go over, and there is a seal ... but the best laid plans of mice and men: should have sealed the edge of the cut hole as well. Nowt for it: bigger sink and a big smile on my face when I suggest it. Thanks @Ferdinand

? Just before Christmas But I cut through the laminate to make the 'ole for the sink. I think I'll go on that cruise @epsilonGreedy .... mind you that could be a death sentence - but come to think of it I'm facing one anyway.

I forgot to seal the edges of the hole I cut for the sink. And now she's noticed that the 'grain' in the chipboard worktop is rising right next to the sink - a bit not too much. Her fault for splashing around too much ?

Welcome. You are in good company here. Many stories of similar searches for land ; you can draw encouragement from members who have shown the success grit and determination brings. We're five years in, and probably five more to go (SWMBO wants the perfect garden ? - guess whose job that'll be). One word sums much of the job up - persistence.

That looks wonderful - and the perfect garden too - no mowing. Is that local stone - it looks very well contrasted with the cladding.

Stick to the knitting. The house. You are building in a period of significant organisational change. Prices are not stable. Put plenty of ducting in (with pull throughs) so that you can network anything you're going to need

Thats turned my Sunday night dram of single malt sour in my mouth .... need another to wash out the taste.

Still greatly enjoying the times Russ actually writes those words... cheers me up no end. Thanks.

Tryin' to tell us you are sitting starkers while having a coffee? This weather? Brave lad.