Getting "Stuff" from the ground to a roof

Bucket on a rope.

The five gallon bucket truly is the manly measure of quantity and mobility. Enough buckets, even a pyramid!

Not another new pyramid building theory!

Del: That's lame! You can do better than that.

I've seen ladders set up with cable drawn lifts on them being used by roofers and building contractors. I'm sure they're bought rather than home made due to insurance requirements. I don't know what they are called; ladder elevators or lifts?

That would be a power ladder generally used in the roofing industry

The bucket and rope method works well and it's simple and cheap. For heavy items, you'll need one of two things: a multi-pulley system or a truck

With a multi-pulley system, one guy can lift heavier weights at the expense of time (takes more pulls to lift).

Or you can just hook the rope up to a truck and use the truck to pull.

Both options throw the lightweight requirement out the window.

When I was in France last year I saw some house movers getting furniture in & out of a 3rd floor flat. They were using a belt conveyor that was mounted on a truck bed. The conveyor had rigid vanes on it so that the articles could just be rested in place & the conveyor was at about a 70° angle.

One method is to use portable tripod with winch, electric or air. Can be rented from most rental companies. Or make your own.

Also small or large vertical lifts can be rented all sizes.

Trebuchet?

Explosives? they are lighter.

Apert from my friends' suggestions; If you have to get thing up, you must have to get things down. Like trash etc.. Up would be new supplies. Why not just apply a, ( HOLD ON BECAUSE I AM NOT REAL SURE HOW TO SPELL THIS ), a Tee-ter-toter. Load the waste on one side when its up and use its weight to bring up the new when it goes down. Simple lock in both positions, manual brake in-between. Even your men could use it for the ride. Ta Da!

Yes my friend, There is a way! However I think you preceve from a false prosumption. So here is my input to you: Use the other end of your rope as an equal balance to negate gravity by proving an equal weight. So you wanted simple; buy a rope and a weight. When the load gets up, use the same load that you have to remove to get it down. Therefore weight = 0. Ergo 50$ problem solved. So you wanted an answer, there it is! Do not let gravity become your white whale!!!! TaDa!!!!!!! The Ashman!