[Shop-talk] gah. Moron press.

[Tom & Marge FitzGibbon]

Forgive the heresy, but gutter cleaning is one I agree should be left to the pros, unless you live in a single story ranch. Not because the task itself is difficult, but because of the need to use a ladder and the fact that too many people do not know how to use one properly or safely and try to work alone without a spotter to steady the ladder. 


I'm a volunteer EMT in a small town with no major highways, and the worst trauma cases we have had in our town over the last few years have all involved falls from ladders. In fact, the only time I can remember we needed to transport someone by helicopter ambulance from our town was after a fall from a ladder. Last year, a very experienced and competent professional fire fighter from a couple of towns over fell from a ladder while working around his house and died. Now, I will admit I do not like climbing ladders more than 6 or 8 feet tall and perhaps that colors my judgement, but unless you use a lot of care and caution when cleaning the gutters on a second (or third) story roof it really can be quite dangerous. The $30 it costs me to have someone clean my gutters is cheap compared to my insurance deductible or the cost of a wheel chair (or casket). 


Tom 




----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Scott Hall" <scott.hall.personal at gmail.com> 
To: shop-talk at autox.team.net 
Sent: Tuesday, March 1, 2011 8:08:44 AM 
Subject: Re: [Shop-talk] gah. Moron press. 

I know a lot of people that aren't willing to even install a ceiling 
fan, lest they electrocute themselves and burn the house down. It makes 
no sense to me, but enough of my co-workers thought I'm a full-time G.C. 
(never mind what I'm doing at the office all day, I guess) because I 
cleaned out a sink once to tell me that list wouldn't surprise them. 

But cleaning the gutters? Seriously? Hire someone to clean your gutters? 

On 2/28/2011 11:33 PM, David Scheidt wrote: 
> I just saw a news story about home improvement projects you shouldn't 
> do your self. (I'm not going to name it, because well, it's crap, and 
> screw their advertisers.) 
> It lists; 
> tilling 
> plumbing 
> wiring 
> window and door installs 
> ceiling fans 
> structural work 
> siding 
> roofing 
> painting 
> cleaning the gutters. 
> 
> The reasons given are "trust the professionals" and "you're too stupid". 
> I'm not quite sure what they mean to leave on the list. 
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