Leaf blower and vaccuum on top of roof
 

Hi:

I need some advise as to the lightest leaf vaccuum that I can use in the
following situation.

I have a courtyard style home - the house itself wraps around a central
courtyard with a pool in the middle. There are a few large trees on the
outside and their leaves will fall on to the roof and into the pool, so an
overhead screen enclosure was erected to keep leaves and insects out. Here
are two pics and it's easier to see than describe:

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w...r/P1000994.jpg
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w...r/P1000991.jpg

As you can see, there is a valley or built-in gutter around the entire
perimeter which now traps the leaves, there are also leaves on the lowest
part of the screen.

The challenge is how to clean the leaves out.

I cannot use a blower since there is no where to blow, would end up landing
on another part of the gutter or screen anyways. I cannot clean the gutter
from below on a ladder because the screen is in the way. So I need to get a
leaf vaccuum.

I noticed that are four kind - electric corded, electric rechargeable,
backpack and gas. My concerns is basically I am little afraid of height,
walking on that roof is ok, but I am concerned about walking on that roof
with a 15 pound blower that may cause me to lose balance when changing
directions, or if I have to lean over to get the leave on the low side of
the screen. So I need the lightest possible blower that would work as a
vaccuum for leaves, but in researching the matter everyone seems to think
gas blower is the only way to go. Also, the courtyard is about 50 feet by
45 feet so if I use an electric one I need a very long cord I would think.

Any suggestions on what brand/model blower/vaccuum I need? or if you have
another idea to do the job without the risk I rather not have to do it,
hiring someone to do it is a posssibility but the normal lawn people will
hesitate to go up to the roof as they don't carry insurance if they fall for
any reason is my problem again.

Thank you for your time.

MC

Leaf blower and vaccuum on top of roof
 

"MiamiCuse" wrote in message
...

[snip]
As you can see, there is a valley or built-in gutter around the entire
perimeter which now traps the leaves, there are also leaves on the lowest
part of the screen.

The challenge is how to clean the leaves out.


[snip]

I, too, don't like the idea of trying to walk around on a sloping roof
carrying a heavy vacuum. There are probably a few factors that don't come
out in your post or pictures -- e.g., how many leaves are we talking about;
where does the rainwater drain out, etc.

Some ideas / suggestions you may have already considered:

1. From my experience -- using a blower to blow leaves out of a gutter
isn't effective (as you said). Leaves go everywhere.
2. You may have another problem -- you don't want to be walking on your
roof tile any more than necessary
3. An outdoor vacuum may not be very effective, especially if the leaves
mat up and are wet
4. There is a gas-engined power head to which you can add various
accessories -- one of the accessories is a vacuum. Ryobi, John Deere, and
others make the power head and accessories. Don't go that route because
it's too awkward and heavy.
5. My first efforts would be to use something I didn't have to carry --
a. A regular garden hose with a good nozzle, assuming there are few
enough leaves to wash them down the downspout where the rainwater goes;
b. Or a small electric pressure washer if you need a little more oomph.
You'd have to carry the unit to the roof plus run electricity and water to
the unit, but electric pressure washers are light-weight and comparatively
inexpensive.
c. If you have a good number of leaves, and they're wet, sweep the
leaves down the gutter with a broom and then pick them up manually with one
of those 3' long grabbers available at the BORGs.
d. If I had to use a vacuum, I'd take the wheels off a light-weight
wet-dry shop-vac (one with 2 1/2" diameter hose), buy an extra length of
hose for more range, then carry everything onto the roof and use the 6' wand
and a medium nozzle to pick up the leaves (actually, in this case you could
probably use the same equipment attached to the blower end to first-of-all
corral all of the leaves in one small area).
6. Also, before anything else, I'd look to see what my neighbors in similar
houses do --

Regards --

Leaf blower and vaccuum on top of roof
 

In article k.net,
"JimR" wrote:

"MiamiCuse" wrote in message
...

[snip]
As you can see, there is a valley or built-in gutter around the entire
perimeter which now traps the leaves, there are also leaves on the lowest
part of the screen.

The challenge is how to clean the leaves out.


[snip]

I, too, don't like the idea of trying to walk around on a sloping roof
carrying a heavy vacuum. There are probably a few factors that don't come
out in your post or pictures -- e.g., how many leaves are we talking about;
where does the rainwater drain out, etc.

Some ideas / suggestions you may have already considered:

1. From my experience -- using a blower to blow leaves out of a gutter
isn't effective (as you said). Leaves go everywhere.
2. You may have another problem -- you don't want to be walking on your
roof tile any more than necessary
3. An outdoor vacuum may not be very effective, especially if the leaves
mat up and are wet
4. There is a gas-engined power head to which you can add various
accessories -- one of the accessories is a vacuum. Ryobi, John Deere, and
others make the power head and accessories. Don't go that route because
it's too awkward and heavy.
5. My first efforts would be to use something I didn't have to carry --
a. A regular garden hose with a good nozzle, assuming there are few
enough leaves to wash them down the downspout where the rainwater goes;
b. Or a small electric pressure washer if you need a little more oomph.
You'd have to carry the unit to the roof plus run electricity and water to
the unit, but electric pressure washers are light-weight and comparatively
inexpensive.
c. If you have a good number of leaves, and they're wet, sweep the
leaves down the gutter with a broom and then pick them up manually with one
of those 3' long grabbers available at the BORGs.
d. If I had to use a vacuum, I'd take the wheels off a light-weight
wet-dry shop-vac (one with 2 1/2" diameter hose), buy an extra length of
hose for more range, then carry everything onto the roof and use the 6' wand
and a medium nozzle to pick up the leaves (actually, in this case you could
probably use the same equipment attached to the blower end to first-of-all
corral all of the leaves in one small area).
6. Also, before anything else, I'd look to see what my neighbors in similar
houses do --

Regards --

If I understand you correctly, there is a grating (grill) over your
gutter. If your gutter isn't draining, maybe what you need is a snake
for you down spout.
- Bill
Coloribus gustibus non disputatum (mostly)

Leaf blower and vaccuum on top of roof
 

"MiamiCuse" wrote in message
...

Any suggestions on what brand/model blower/vaccuum I need? or if you have
another idea to do the job without the risk I rather not have to do it,
hiring someone to do it is a posssibility but the normal lawn people will
hesitate to go up to the roof as they don't carry insurance if they fall
for any reason is my problem again.



I had a similar situation and hired the gutter guys to do it.
Then they designed a nifty gutter guard system so it would not happen again.
The problems is with the screen enclosure design- they never put enough
consideration into the maintenance end of things.


--
Toni
South Florida USA
USDA Zone 10
http://www.cearbhaill.com

Leaf blower and vaccuum on top of roof
 

wrt blowers I now use a corded one and its fine for single blowing yard use;
I used to own a pro gas model, and it came with a free vacuum attachment (an
echo option), but I can't comment cause I never used/needed it. I bet it
would be great sucking out window wells. The tube may be larger than a
shop-vac's (4" instead of 2" for example). I would think a rechargable
would do a decent single purpose job. Maybe test drive them.

You may conside an extension pole, and/or something to step on. It'd be
concerned with creating a clean-out opening option. Maybe a combination or
suck/blow/water blast. Or just flop it down (a 16" high gated hinged
window mesh/ wire frame) and use a rake. I have down crazy things to get at
leaves. After you've done it thousand times, nothing is dumb


"MiamiCuse" wrote in message
...
Hi:

I need some advise as to the lightest leaf vaccuum that I can use in the
following situation.

I have a courtyard style home - the house itself wraps around a central
courtyard with a pool in the middle. There are a few large trees on the
outside and their leaves will fall on to the roof and into the pool, so an
overhead screen enclosure was erected to keep leaves and insects out.
Here are two pics and it's easier to see than describe:

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w...r/P1000994.jpg
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w...r/P1000991.jpg

As you can see, there is a valley or built-in gutter around the entire
perimeter which now traps the leaves, there are also leaves on the lowest
part of the screen.

The challenge is how to clean the leaves out.

I cannot use a blower since there is no where to blow, would end up
landing on another part of the gutter or screen anyways. I cannot clean
the gutter from below on a ladder because the screen is in the way. So I
need to get a leaf vaccuum.

I noticed that are four kind - electric corded, electric rechargeable,
backpack and gas. My concerns is basically I am little afraid of height,
walking on that roof is ok, but I am concerned about walking on that roof
with a 15 pound blower that may cause me to lose balance when changing
directions, or if I have to lean over to get the leave on the low side of
the screen. So I need the lightest possible blower that would work as a
vaccuum for leaves, but in researching the matter everyone seems to think
gas blower is the only way to go. Also, the courtyard is about 50 feet
by 45 feet so if I use an electric one I need a very long cord I would
think.

Any suggestions on what brand/model blower/vaccuum I need? or if you have
another idea to do the job without the risk I rather not have to do it,
hiring someone to do it is a posssibility but the normal lawn people will
hesitate to go up to the roof as they don't carry insurance if they fall
for any reason is my problem again.

Thank you for your time.

MC





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Leaf blower and vaccuum on top of roof
 

MiamiCuse wrote:
Hi:

I need some advise as to the lightest leaf vaccuum that I can use in the
following situation.

I have a courtyard style home - the house itself wraps around a central
courtyard with a pool in the middle. There are a few large trees on the
outside and their leaves will fall on to the roof and into the pool, so an
overhead screen enclosure was erected to keep leaves and insects out. Here
are two pics and it's easier to see than describe:

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w...r/P1000994.jpg
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w...r/P1000991.jpg

As you can see, there is a valley or built-in gutter around the entire
perimeter which now traps the leaves, there are also leaves on the lowest
part of the screen.

The challenge is how to clean the leaves out.

I cannot use a blower since there is no where to blow, would end up landing
on another part of the gutter or screen anyways. I cannot clean the gutter
from below on a ladder because the screen is in the way. So I need to get a
leaf vaccuum.

I noticed that are four kind - electric corded, electric rechargeable,
backpack and gas. My concerns is basically I am little afraid of height,
walking on that roof is ok, but I am concerned about walking on that roof
with a 15 pound blower that may cause me to lose balance when changing
directions, or if I have to lean over to get the leave on the low side of
the screen. So I need the lightest possible blower that would work as a
vaccuum for leaves, but in researching the matter everyone seems to think
gas blower is the only way to go. Also, the courtyard is about 50 feet by
45 feet so if I use an electric one I need a very long cord I would think.

Any suggestions on what brand/model blower/vaccuum I need? or if you have
another idea to do the job without the risk I rather not have to do it,
hiring someone to do it is a posssibility but the normal lawn people will
hesitate to go up to the roof as they don't carry insurance if they fall for
any reason is my problem again.

Thank you for your time.

MC


It is very rare for anyone to be satisfied with the performance of any
of the handheld leaf vacs. They just don't create enough vacuum to pick
up much.

I don't have a solution to your problem except my advice to look at
something other than a handheld vac. Sorry...

--
Art

Leaf blower and vaccuum on top of roof
 

Art wrote:
MiamiCuse wrote:
Hi:

I need some advise as to the lightest leaf vaccuum that I can use in
the following situation.

I have a courtyard style home - the house itself wraps around a
central courtyard with a pool in the middle. There are a few large
trees on the outside and their leaves will fall on to the roof and
into the pool, so an overhead screen enclosure was erected to keep
leaves and insects out. Here are two pics and it's easier to see than
describe:

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w...r/P1000994.jpg
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w...r/P1000991.jpg

As you can see, there is a valley or built-in gutter around the entire
perimeter which now traps the leaves, there are also leaves on the
lowest part of the screen.

The challenge is how to clean the leaves out.

I cannot use a blower since there is no where to blow, would end up
landing on another part of the gutter or screen anyways. I cannot
clean the gutter from below on a ladder because the screen is in the
way. So I need to get a leaf vaccuum.

I noticed that are four kind - electric corded, electric rechargeable,
backpack and gas. My concerns is basically I am little afraid of
height, walking on that roof is ok, but I am concerned about walking
on that roof with a 15 pound blower that may cause me to lose balance
when changing directions, or if I have to lean over to get the leave
on the low side of the screen. So I need the lightest possible blower
that would work as a vaccuum for leaves, but in researching the matter
everyone seems to think gas blower is the only way to go. Also, the
courtyard is about 50 feet by 45 feet so if I use an electric one I
need a very long cord I would think.

Any suggestions on what brand/model blower/vaccuum I need? or if you
have another idea to do the job without the risk I rather not have to
do it, hiring someone to do it is a posssibility but the normal lawn
people will hesitate to go up to the roof as they don't carry
insurance if they fall for any reason is my problem again.

Thank you for your time.

MC

It is very rare for anyone to be satisfied with the performance of any
of the handheld leaf vacs. They just don't create enough vacuum to pick
up much.

I don't have a solution to your problem except my advice to look at
something other than a handheld vac. Sorry...




I looked at a Stihl leaf sucker/shredder a couple of weeks ago that was
kind of interesting. It was on sale at the local fix-it shop for $279.
(I let it go cuz I'm a cheapskate)

You also could wait for a very windy day to blow the leaves. :-) A long
hose -- at least 3/8" -- from an air compressor on the ground would
handle that.

Bob

Leaf blower and vaccuum on top of roof
 

In article ,
"bent" wrote:

Maybe a combination or suck/blow/water blast.

beecrofter wrote:
Take a male flower and break it off and use it as the brush to bring
some pollen to the female flowers

I think I'm starting to see Frag's problem.

- Bill
Coloribus gustibus non disputatum (mostly)

I simply use the mop to push all the leaves out from the roof 8-)