I don’t have television service yet there is a big antennae on the roof. It doesn’t bring in any channels but acts like a wind harp. At night, especially when the air is cold, it hums with an irritating pulsation. It clearly has to be removed.

The roof has a 12/8 pitch. Meaning for every foot horizontally the roof gains eight inches vertically. That’s a steep roof. There had been composite roofing tiles that needed replacing or fastened down. I called a contractor after I had gone up and my tools slid down to the ground. This was clearly a job for a professional. I didn’t have him remove the antennae at that time because he felt it would work with a new coax cable.

Today I knew I was going to buck up and take the antennae down.

I went up with bare feet hoping to have a more positive sticking action. I quickly learned that was true but it also removed skin from the soft parts. I moved quickly to the peak and sat down, scooting forward on my butt. Yes there really is another use for a crotch.

I cut the first guide wire and found the antennae was ready to lay down immediately. The internet (expensive) wireless antennae ( extremely necessary) was in its path. I had a big heavy awkward vertical thingy wanting to become horizontal. I clearly had a problem. I scooted backwards maintaining tension on the guide wire to keep the antennae upright. I don’t know why but I looked down at this point, maybe hoping to see help arriving, only to see my daughter taking pictures. ARGH!

Like felling a tree I clipped the next wire opposite the direction I wanted it to fall. That worked. It fell over onto the roof and with a couple more clips I was able to pull it off onto the ground. It was sheer luck that nothing was destroyed or windows broken.

So here’s a little advice. If you pay someone to go up to a scary place, look around and have them do everything that needs doing while they’re up there.

Tools needed:
wire cutter
1/4 box wrench
ladder
bare feet