Whether it’s for large-scale roofing projects or smaller ones, a ladder hoist is on piece of roofing equipment that will save your back and make life easier.

The main purpose of a  ladder hoist is to move heavy roofing material from the ground to the roof.

Safety Officer Watches Ladder Hoist Go To Work

What Is Ladder Hoist Used For? 

Ladder hoists are used frequently by construction workers, roofers, and other types of laborers. Most of the time they aid in jobs where the workers don’t want to climb a ladder with heavy material and instead move the roofing material using a ladder hoist.

When there is work being done on the roof, there are certain roofing materials that need to be used during this process.

Most of these materials are quite heavy – and they need to be lifted to the roof. This leaves plenty of room for accidents to happen.

Ladder hoists serve to lift the construction material to the roof, and they are made to do so safely.

Of course, as the term says, the ladder hoist is made from the ladder and a hoist. The ladder used for a ladder-hoist system must be able to handle the heavyweight and pressure.

This is why the ladder usually comes with a hoist, and so we call it a ladder hoist or a safety hoist.

In most cases, the hoist attached to the ladder is controlled by a motorized system at the very end of the ladder. When a construction worker pushes the hand lever at the bottom, the system activates.

This is when the platform, which is attached to the ladder and carries the roofing material, lifts to the roof. The platform stops when the worker stops pushing the lever.

There are also some variations to this system, and not all of them work the same way. However, all of them do serve the same purpose and are quite easy to use.

Possibly the most common system is the cable system. This is when a platform attached to the ladder passes vertically with the help of a cable.

What holds this cable is usually a pulley wheel. A pulley wheel periodically releases or tenses, as the worker controls the movement of the platform.

Sometimes a rack and pinion system is used. Also, some of the ladder hoists have an extra break for added security.

All of these features together are what make a ladder hoist an essential part of every roofing tools list.

What Is Ladder Hoist Made Of? 

Ladder hoists are usually made from aluminum, whereas the cable itself is a steel wire rope.

These materials are durable, as they have to be in order to transfer very heavy objects. They have to be successful at it, not only to make the construction process easier but to also prevent accidents or injuries.

If you dig deeper into the materials used to make a ladder hoist, you won’t go much further than this. Aluminum used to create this system is an industry-standard.

However, when it comes to the platform itself, things are different material-wise. If you decide to make the ladder hoist yourself, you can also use a wooden platform, which can be as successful as other materials.

The only thing you need to be careful about is that you use wood that is strong enough in order to handle heavy objects. Even more importantly, be sure to attach the platform correctly.

Shingle Ladder Hoist 

Shingle ladder hoists are just what their name says – they are used to lift shingles. If you are researching this type of ladder hoist, you might find it under the term shingle lift, too.

Apart from other construction materials, shingles are possibly the object most often transported with a ladder hoist. This is also the case with solar shingles.

A typical shingle ladder hoist is recognizable because it uses a platform to lift objects.

This type of ladder hoist is also called a safety shingle hoist, as it uses gas or electricity to power-lift the shingles. These types of hoists are operated by the use of a lever at the bottom of the ladder.

Manual Ladder Hoist

This type of ladder hoist also eliminates the need to use a boom truck or for scaffolding. What makes a manual ladder hoist different is that it is operated by hand without the need for any type of fuel.

A manual ladder hoist lifts the objects with the winch and pulley type of system. It’s easy to use manually and can be installed on an extension ladder.

The manual ladder hoist is typically used to install new windows, as it’s perfect for transferring flat materials.

How To Use a Ladder Hoist?

When using a ladder hoist, it’s very important to stick to a manual to avoid any accidents.

Here, we’re going to cover some of the general rules of using a ladder hoist. Those are:

• Never use a ladder hoist to climb or lift people. These are designed to lift heavy objects.
• Be aware of the maximum load capacity provided in the instructions (in the case of purchasing a new ladder hoist)
• When assembling the ladder hoist, start with assembling the platform first. Be sure to follow detailed instructions on how to do so, even if you’re doing a DIY hoist.
• You will need at least 2 or 3 men to properly raise and adjust the ladder. Don’t try to do this by yourself
• The next step will require attaching a hoist and also a wire rope vertically – at least one man on the roof and one man on the bottom is required for this
• Make sure the steel base is properly set in place
• Operate the hoist by the use of the lever – this will vary on the type of the ladder hoist
• Last but not least, be aware of the safety precautions during the assembling process, construction work, and also whilst lowering the ladder

How to Prevent Ladder Hoist Accidents? 

A ladder hoist is made specifically to avoid damages and/or accidents, while also making construction work easier.

However, you can also cause accidents with the ladder hoist if you avoid the general safety instructions:

• Never operate this equipment while under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• Never operate this equipment under unsafe conditions (such as bad weather or others)
• Always check the overall condition of the unit before use
• This includes checking the fuel level, the cable movement, as well as the bolts, joints, and moving parts of the unit
• Always check if the base of the ladder is secured
• Always be aware of the overhead objects
• Always make sure to carefully communicate with others so all of the workers remain aware of the moving parts and possible accidents
• Always be aware of the safety precautions on the label of the product itself
• Be sure to distance hands and legs away from the moving parts
• Never use a ladder hoist to transfer something that can spill over (especially something hot in the case of building a concrete roof)
• Finally, this equipment should be operated only by skillful construction workers. If unsure, it’s better to ask for help from a professional than risk getting injured.

Apart from these points, there are also some other general rules that you should keep in mind during roofing work. Those include the advice all of the construction workers have to keep in mind during any kind of project.

Things such as wearing proper shoes and clothes, maintaining a clean working area, and having someone to help you are just some of them.

Should You Buy or Rent a Ladder Hoist? 

If you are starting a roofing company, a ladder hoist is going to be something you will need. However, if you are just working on a one time project. It is probably better to rent.

This is because, although renting a ladder hoist might save you some money, it can cause more damage in the long run. In other words, you have to be aware of the possible damages of the hoist when renting one.

If you can’t spot the signs of a worn ladder hoist, it opens up a lot of possibilities for damages and injuries during the construction work.

The equipment such as a ladder hoist is only used by more experienced professionals. As its purpose is to lift and carry heavy objects, this equipment can become damaged in many different ways.

Some scratch here and there is nothing to worry about. However, if the bolts or rolling parts are damaged, they can become obstructed and cause serious accidents during use.

A more experienced construction worker will know how to spot damaged equipment. However, there are still some signs that you can train yourself to look out for.

Visible signs such as corrosion, dents, loose nails, screws, or bolts, sharp edges, or missing pieces are just some of them. [3]

On the other hand, if you’re an experienced construction worker, go for a rented one. If you only need a ladder hoist for a small project, you can also rent it, but make sure to have a more experienced worker with you.

Ladder Hoist DIY 

A lot of homeowners do simple home repair projects such as removing the moss on the roof or installing roof vents.

However, making your ladder hoist comes as an option for those crafty homeowners who enjoy making their equipment.

Making your ladder hoist is perfectly possible and a lot of people have done it. However, before you start on this project, make sure to read the safety precautions we mentioned earlier in the article.

Even though it’s a DIY, you’re actually going to need a hoist to start with. The hoist can be attached to an extension ladder that is capable of withstanding the pressure and weight.

The next step will be attaching the carriage or a platform. This tends to be the easiest step as it doesn’t require too much cutting.

The platform is usually attached in a way that it can roll vertically, as this is what lifts the objects. You can use a metal platform similar to the ladder itself or attach a wooden one.

After inserting the cable vertically through the ladder, it’s time to test the ladder hoist. Make sure to do this with someone’s help in case of any accidents occurring.

As mentioned previously, don’t try to sit on the platform in order to test the ladder hoist. Especially when first trying it out, a system can malfunction and you can injure yourself.

However, do be sure to place some heavy objects in order to test the ladder hoist properly. You don’t want to test it with light objects and have an accident happen during the construction work.

Is Ladder Hoist the Right Choice For You? 

When it comes to certain equipment, one can’t be that unsure if they need it or not. That is the case with the ladder hoist, too.

If a roofing project requires you to lift heavy objects on the roof, it’s better to use a ladder hoist than not. The only other option you have is to lift those materials by hand. This can cause injury and even heavy accidents.

To avoid this, opt for a ladder hoist. However, keep in mind that you can also get injured if using this machine improperly.

Since most ladder hoists are run by gas or electricity, a lot of things can go wrong. This is especially the case for inexperienced workers. Add the danger of falling heavy objects to the mix, and you get quite a mess!

The bottom line is – you can choose to use a ladder hoist regarding your experience and the size of the project. If you decide to use it, make sure to have at least other 2 or 3 people working with you when operating this equipment.