Spec me ..... Ladders

stuie

stuie

stuie

Soldato
Joined
29 May 2012
Posts
3,364
Location
Dorset
Bought a house 5 years back done a few bits and bats over the years but I need to think about repainting the outside and perhaps being able to get up as far as the roof for replacing the odd tile or clearing out the guttering.

So what are the best extension ladders for about the home work?
 
never really bothered me, always got mine from screwfix over the years.

Just get whatever length you need.
 
When you buy them make sure you check the weight rating and take in to consideration that will more than likely be your weight + the weight of whatever you're carrying or holding whilst on the ladder which can increase quite substantially if you're lugging buckets of water/mortar up to the roof and carrying bricks/roofing tiles.

Remember too you will need to get the height of your eaves + around 3ft/1M to allow you to get on and off the ladder safely from the roof. Also, wider is better, more stable and make sure the rungs aren't too slippery/skinny, avoid square/round rungs and go for D rungs as these have always seemed to be the strongest and offer best foot-print/grip.

Never buy second-hand ladders unless you're particularly suicidal, like breaking bones or want to be in a wheel-chair to go everywhere.
 
And make sure you read up, if you haven't already done so, on how to climb and descend your ladder.

I've seen loads of guys climb/descend ladders with their hands on the uprights and NOT on the rungs..... if your foot slips off a rung and you haven't got your hand on a rung you are going to hit the ground. You just can't save yourself by holding on to the uprights. Sounds silly but it's worth having a few practice goes. Some people will advise you to only move one limb at a time.

None slip footwear is a must too.

As a previous poster said, it's better to get a wider ladder with D rungs. I don't think long wooden ladders have D rungs, but I could be wrong. They are much heavier too.

My own dad, when he was alive, slipped off his wooden ladder (no D rungs) and cracked a number of ribs.
 
Just sounds too complicated and dangerous to me, i would just leave it mate better safe than sorry:p
 
I like the Zarges Skymaster or similar combination ladder, can be used as a large stepladder for lower down stuff with more stability or a longer extension ladder for roof work

Not cheap though
 
You considered hiring in scaffolding if you're repainting the outside?

Ladders are dead expensive for a one-off job and not something you want to be skimping on. Scaffolding will make painting much quicker and easier too so you shouldn't need them for as long as you would a ladder.
 
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