What is a roof jack, and what are the other names for one? Roof brackets at 45, 60 and 90 degrees, 2x6 and 2x10 planks, slater’s brackets, ladder jacks and hooks, ladder stabilizers and locks, hoisting wheels, and the fall protection rules on a roof
A roof jack is a roof bracket: a steel bracket nailed through the shingles into a rafter that holds a 2x6 or 2x10 plank on a pitched roof so a roofer has a level place to stand and stack bundles; the other names are roof bracket, roofing bracket, shingle bracket, slater’s bracket (a bracket with a slotted tongue that is driven under a course and removed without lifting it) and, in the sheet-metal trade, a roof jack also means the metal flashing boot around a pipe. The angle on the bracket (45, 60 or 90 degrees) is the angle the plank sits at relative to the bracket arm, so the plank is level on a steep roof; 2x6 brackets are the common size and the 2x10 bracket carries a wider plank for walking. OSHA 1926.452(h) treats a plank on roof brackets as a scaffold and 1926.501(b)(13) still requires fall protection on a steep roof; the brackets give footing, not fall arrest.
C&R RB-45 Roof Bracket, 3 versions, 2 in x 6 inThe product data lists the RB-45, RB-60 and RB-90 as 19 in roof brackets for a 2x6 plank in 45, 60 and 90 degreeWhat this guide is and is not. It is about the staging hardware roofers use to stand, stack and climb: roof brackets, ladder jacks, ladder hooks, ladder locks and hoisting wheels, with the OSHA rules that apply to each quoted where they matter. It is not a fall protection guide; anchors, harnesses, lifelines and the roof fall protection rules have their own pages, linked below, and nothing on this page is a substitute for them. The questions people ask (what a roof jack is, its other names, how to use ladder jacks, what a ladder hook and a ladder lock are, how much a ladder rack holds, what a hoisting wheel does, what roofers use to not slip) are answered in that order.
Roof brackets and ladder accessories, question by question
Bracket angles and plank sizes are from the product data on this site; the rules quoted are from 29 CFR 1926.452, 1926.501 and 1926.1053.
Roof brackets and ladder accessories in plain words
- Roof jack = roof bracket: nailed through the shingles into a rafter, holds a 2x6 or 2x10 plank level on a pitched roof.
- 45, 60 and 90 degree is the plank angle to the bracket arm; pick it to the pitch so the plank is level (1926.452(h)).
- Nail into rafters, slip the top under a course, planks no more than 4 feet between 2x6 brackets, 12 inch max overhang.
- Ladder jacks: pairs on Type I/IA ladders, platform under 20 feet, planks 18 inches wide, ladders no more than 8 feet apart (1926.452(k)).
- Ladder hook: wheel up the roof, flip, hook the ridge. Never shop-made.
- Ladder stabilizer stands the ladder off the wall; ladder lock clamps it to the truck rack.
- Hoisting wheel lifts bundles on a rope; never a person.
- Brackets, planks, pads and hooks are footing; the harness, anchor and lifeline are fall protection (1926.501(b)(10) and (b)(13)).
Questions people ask
What is another name for a roof jack?
Roof bracket, roofing bracket, shingle bracket or slater’s bracket; the same words also mean a pipe flashing boot.
What do roofers use to not slip?
Soft flat rubber soles, dry shingles, brackets and planks, a ridge-hooked ladder on steep roofs, and fall protection, which is what OSHA requires.
What does a 4x12 pitch look like on a speed square?
The 4 on the common-rafter scale, about 18.4 degrees; see the speed square guide linked below.
How much weight can you put on a ladder rack?
What the rack manufacturer rates it for, printed on the rack, typically 250 to 1,000 lb; we sell the ladder lock, not racks.
Where can I find a replacement ladder lock buckle?
From the strap-lock manufacturer by model; our Ladder Lock is a clamp type with no buckle.
How to make a ladder hook?
Do not; a ladder hook carries a worker’s weight at the ridge and a shop-made hook has no rating. Ours has a wheel and a rated hook.
Can I take a truck with a ladder rack through a car wash?
That depends on the wash and the rack height; we do not sell racks and cannot advise on a specific wash.
What is a ladder jack?
A bracket that hooks over two or three ladder rungs to hold a plank between two ladders, under the rules of 1926.452(k).
What is a ladder stabilizer?
A wide standoff bar at the top of an extension ladder that bears on the wall or roof so the ladder does not rest on the gutter or rock.
What is a hoisting wheel?
A pulley wheel that hooks on a ladder top or a handle so bundles and buckets are pulled up by rope; never for people.
How far apart do roof brackets go?
No more than 4 feet for a 2x6 plank, 6 feet for a 2x10, with the plank overhanging the end bracket no more than 12 inches, nailed into rafters.
Do roof brackets count as fall protection?
No. They are a scaffold under 1926.452(h); fall protection on a roof is a guardrail, net or personal fall arrest system under 1926.501.
Related guides
OSHA roof fall protection rulesLow-slope and steep roofsWhat is the 25 percent rule in roofing?A code replacement rule, and the OSHA rules that do applyHow do you tie off on a roof?Anchor, lifeline, rope grab and SRLOSHA ladder requirementsInspection, angle and the 3-point ruleRoof anchors by roof typeWood, standing seam, corrugated, tile and membraneKnee padsWhen they are required and how to wear themRope: poly, sisal, manila and nylonStrength by size and what each fiber doesSpeed squares, framing squares and torpedo levelsReading pitch and checking squareThe ratings, test results and standards shown here are the manufacturers' published values, reproduced as published. Nothing on this page is a recommendation by Bayshore Safety that any product is suitable for a particular task, hazard or workplace. Selecting safety products and protective equipment is the responsibility of the end user and the employer, based on their own hazard assessment and the regulations that apply to their work. Confirm every value on the manufacturer's own documentation before use.