House DIY Help Needed: Replacing Paneling at 40ft

Hopefully someone on here has some creative ideas.

We are getting our townhouse ready to put it on the market. That means finishing off the kitchen reno, new vanity in one of the bathrooms and finishing up some smaller projects. The one bigger project that is left, is the T1-11 paneling on the exterior of our chimney. The top 2 sections have begun to rot and now need to be replaced.

We live in a townhouse with a walkout basement, and no deck. That means that the top of the chimney is 35-40ft off the ground. I have gotten estimates from a couple of contractors, and they are all in the $5K range. Many, have not even wanted to bid on the job.

I have looked into doing it myself, but the tallest ladder I can rent from Home Depot is 32 ft. That still doesn't get me high enough to get to the very top of the chimney.

Are there any other options? We are finishing the kitchen, about to replace the HVAC and I just spent $5K on mechanical work on my 996. I really don't have another $5K laying around unless there literally are no other options.

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Rope and a grappling hook?

I'd consider renting scaffolding for something that high up. Trying to wrangle a piece of siding that big while on a tall ladder is a bad idea.

https://www.sunbeltrentals.com/equipment/items/1338/scaffolding-interior-adjustable/

Scaffolding.
How square is the ground below?

Can you work off the roof?

I'd put on a safety harness, and run the rope over the ridge. Tied to a vehicle on the ground. If you pull off the siding on the side, you can climb inside the chimney chase and kick the old piece loose. Then you can reach through to remove the nails, etc.

Then, you could screw a 2x4 outrigger to the side extending out about 2'. Do the same on the other side, and run a walk board across them. Install the new piece, finish the paint and everything.

THEN repair the sides.

Make sure your safety gear is in good shape, that the lines are protected from any abrasive edges they cross over, that you avoid the heat, and that you are not the least bit squeamish about heights.

If you take your time and accept that it will take a couple days, and that you are gonna take the sides apart to fix the outside, it will be possible.

But NOT if you are no good at heights.

BTW, there are very few ways to do that with a ladder or scaffolding that would be OSHA approved. Ladder would be really dangerous.

Believe it or not, the method I described could be.

You might also look into buying used scaffolding. It may cost more upfront than renting, but cost less in the long run when you resell it.

I'd rent a lift trailer myself.

Cherry picker lift? Boom truck?

Also, look at why that part is rotting to make sure you don't have problems with flashing and leaks.

Assuming you have the space, a Lull or boom truck can reach it. But it's not cheap. Rentals of equipment like that are pricey.

The method I suggested would cost a couple hundred dollars, and a few days if your time. Sounds like a good way to save $5K.

SVreX wrote: I'd put on a safety harness, and run the rope over the ridge. Tied to a vehicle on the ground.

That's a bad idea, unless you have every key to that car in your pocket.

I second the boom truck idea, although it would depend on truck access to the area. There are used trucks in private hands who use them for painting and tree trimming.

A DIY constructed 40' scaffold sounds more than a bit scary. And I'm not overly afraid of heights. There's a of potential for things to go wrong.

To be honest, given the challenges of the job, the $5000 estimate doesn't sound that bad.

Woody wrote:

SVreX wrote: I'd put on a safety harness, and run the rope over the ridge. Tied to a vehicle on the ground.

That's a bad idea, unless you have *every* key to that car in your pocket.

I understand the concern, but it's completely legal by OSHA.

In reply to Ian F:

Unlikely you will find a boom big enough for that owned by a painter.

You'd probably need a 60' boom.

Woody wrote:

SVreX wrote: I'd put on a safety harness, and run the rope over the ridge. Tied to a vehicle on the ground.

That's a bad idea, unless you have *every* key to that car in your pocket.

While that is great advice, I almost feel like you have a story behind it that you're not sharing with the class.

I don't climb, I'd go find an out of work or off season roofer or other climbing tradesman to do it.

Woody wrote:

SVreX wrote: I'd put on a safety harness, and run the rope over the ridge. Tied to a vehicle on the ground.

That's a bad idea, unless you have *every* key to that car in your pocket.

Disconnect the battery so it can't be started by accident?

Whatever you don't, try not to have it show up on thereifixedit.com :)

Looks like renting this is $275/day around here. Probably doesn't include delivery, though:

In reply to codrus:

That's a 45' boom. Not big enough.

Transport, fuel, insurance, etc... a 60' boom is gonna be more like $1000 out the door.

Assuming you can get it done in a day. If you've never worked in a 60' boom, you may not be able to.

I rented a towable boom lift from home derpot that when fully up it had my feet 5' above the peak of my 3 story house. You need decently level ground below, but you're going to have trouble reaching the backside. I personally, being a professional contractor/carpenter, would sub that out if it were my own home to someone with the equipment. I don't like heights especially not carrying a sail up a 40' ladder with me.

If you call a rental company, they will send a Rep to your house to assess the site, and offer recommendations.

There's no way I'd try to go that high in a towable. And there's no way I'd try to do it with scaffolding.

Woody wrote:

SVreX wrote: I'd put on a safety harness, and run the rope over the ridge. Tied to a vehicle on the ground.

That's a bad idea, unless you have *every* key to that car in your pocket.

Or the fuel pump relay.

Being back yard of a townhouse, can you even get a boom back there?

Use the structure to hang scaffolding and then start from the top and work your way down. Build a secure elevated platform and then put the ladder and or pump jacks on top of it. Just saw the siding guys use this method on the back of a 4 story house I was working on. There was a deck on parts of the back they used. On the rest of the back and the sides they built a 12' high temporary platform, and then secured the 32' tall pump jacks on top of that. I recently redid my staircase. Only way upstairs was thru a window so I built a platform outside the window to make entry and exit safer, then built tree house style steps down the legs of the platform.

This seems like the perfect excuse to buy a small fleet of drones.

Rent the 32' ladder and bucket lift. Good to go!

Brian wrote: Being back yard of a townhouse, can you even get a boom back there?

A few have asked this...there is no way to get that type of equipment back there. There is a tree and a gate in the way of getting anything like that in the yard.

Every company I have talked to so far have said they would use scaffolding. Most don't want to bother with this job. I have 2 other companies coming out to give bids today. Along with companies to give estimates on our dying HVAC. Being an adult is fun.