Roof Jacks for Roof Work

Q: The contractors who re-shingled my neighbor’s roof were working on what looked like lumber platforms to have a flat place to kneel or store tools. I have a little roof maintenance to do, and was wondering if these platforms are readily available for consumers.

A: You are probably referring to roof jacks, which essentially consist of heavy metal brackets on which to place a 2-by-10. Roof jacks are nailed directly into the roof rafters, and the arms of the brackets are adjustable so you can level them properly for various roof pitches. Roof jacks are available for consumers at many hardware stores, but we caution all do-it-yourselfers to approach roof work with the utmost safety in mind. For obvious reasons, roof work is extremely dangerous and should generally only be undertaken by experienced individuals.