Telescopic ladders

Steampunk · 17 May 2020 at 22:11

Relentless81 said:
Ah ok that's interesting because I also have a modest shed which is absolutely full of kids toys and rubbish for the tip when they open again!

Can you link me please?

Thanks

I bought mine quite some time ago from BPS via Amazon on sale, but on the BPS website it's the 10 rung 3 section combination ladder. 6.26 metres open and 2.86 metres closed.

They do a 6 metre ladder that closes to 2.5 metres if you really need that extra half metre to be able to store it. They are a bit fat when folded up, so you might need to take that into account.

I have a 3 metre shed with a door in the end, so I can just walk my ladder into the door and stand it on it's side against the wall of the shed.

Make sure you get one with the wide feet, it really adds a lot to the stability.

Relentless81 · 17 May 2020 at 22:21

Steampunk said:
I bought mine quite some time ago from BPS via Amazon on sale, but on the BPS website it's the 10 rung 3 section combination ladder. 6.26 metres open and 2.86 metres closed.

They do a 6 metre ladder that closes to 2.5 metres if you really need that extra half metre to be able to store it. They are a bit fat when folded up, so you might need to take that into account.

I have a 3 metre shed with a door in the end, so I can just walk my ladder into the door and stand it on it's side against the wall of the shed.

Make sure you get one with the wide feet, it really adds a lot to the stability.

Really appreciate this, not sure if I'll get the exact same but I'm sold on that fold out type of ladder I didn't know you get them that tall, I'll have a proper look at those and anything similar that be bought locally

Thanks

Steampunk · 17 May 2020 at 22:28

Relentless81 said:
Really appreciate this, not sure if I'll get the exact same but I'm sold on that fold out type of ladder I didn't know you get them that tall, I'll have a proper look at those and anything similar that be bought locally

Thanks

Have a look through the website. They do all sorts of different ladders, just make sure to read the specs as there seem to be a lot that look the same but are all a bit different. I use the 6.26m ladder to get up to the guttering on my standard two story house, and that's more than tall enough. The 6 metre should be enough assuming each floor is about 2.5 metres high.

Skillmister · 17 May 2020 at 23:11

There is no way I would trust a telescopic ladder up to a first floor.

I need to paint my upstairs window sills and lintels now I've done the upstairs. Will get a 2/3 section ladder.

Relentless81 · 18 May 2020 at 08:45

Steampunk said:
Have a look through the website. They do all sorts of different ladders, just make sure to read the specs as there seem to be a lot that look the same but are all a bit different. I use the 6.26m ladder to get up to the guttering on my standard two story house, and that's more than tall enough. The 6 metre should be enough assuming each floor is about 2.5 metres high.

My Shed has the door on the front on the left, might be a problem I'll have to measure up. Desperately need the tips to open fully so I can clear it out.

Is the one you have the first one you linked, where its more like Step ladders? I would feel much better using something like that. If so I might just get exactly you have

@Skillmister Yeah I'm completely off the idea of telescopic I didnt realise they were a concern at first

Steampunk · 18 May 2020 at 10:04

Relentless81 said:
My Shed has the door on the front on the left, might be a problem I'll have to measure up. Desperately need the tips to open fully so I can clear it out.

Is the one you have the first one you linked, where its more like Step ladders? I would feel much better using something like that. If so I might just get exactly you have

TBH I've never used it that way. I think that will actually be less stable than a single open ladder leaning against the house just because a step ladder is standing on it's own four feet, and if you lean your body out too far, your feet are trying to push the ladder the other way, or your weight can go outside where it's stable. If it's opened in a straight line leaning against the top of the house, the ladder is not going to move because the top is propped against a house that's never going to shift. Also, those sort of multiple-form ladders are never as tall in stepladder configuration as they are just opened in a straight line, so you would need a longer one.

Relentless81 · 18 May 2020 at 10:24

Steampunk said:
TBH I've never used it that way. I think that will actually be less stable than a single open ladder leaning against the house just because a step ladder is standing on it's own four feet, and if you lean your body out too far, your feet are trying to push the ladder the other way, or your weight can go outside where it's stable. If it's opened in a straight line leaning against the top of the house, the ladder is not going to move because the top is propped against a house that's never going to shift. Also, those sort of multiple-form ladders are never as tall in stepladder configuration as they are just opened in a straight line, so you would need a longer one.

Yeah makes sense, I booked this Friday off to go b&q and see what they have, I'll study that website in the meantime and get an idea of exactly what I'm after

Thanks again for your help

jpaul · 18 May 2020 at 10:26

Steampunk said:
TBH I've never used it that way. I think that will actually be less stable than a single open ladder leaning against the house just because a step ladder is standing on it's own four feet, and if you lean your body out too far, your feet are trying to push the ladder the other way, or your weight can go outside where it's stable. If it's opened in a straight line leaning against the top of the house, the ladder is not going to move because the top is propped against a house that's never going to shift. Also, those sort of multiple-form ladders are never as tall in stepladder configuration as they are just opened in a straight line, so you would need a longer one.

agree with that, the combination ladder linked, only has a wide/stable foot on the supporting stay too, so looks less stable if you did sometimes put it against a wall,
a 3 section extension where you could deploy one extension as a stay would be good, on the other hand ?

Steampunk · 18 May 2020 at 11:06

jpaul said:
agree with that, the combination ladder linked, only has a wide/stable foot on the supporting stay too, so looks less stable if you did sometimes put it against a wall,
a 3 section extension where you could deploy one extension as a stay would be good, on the other hand ?

I think the wide feet on one side is enough as you are only supposed to stand on that side when using it as a step ladder. It doesn't seem much adding that small extra width on the bottom feet, but it seems to make it big difference. I think it just makes it much harder to get your weight outside of the stability of the ladder when it's standing up

To use it as a step ladder when getting to guttering is just making it overcomplicated. Just unfold the ladder as long as you need, lean it up against the house, get the job done. I'd only use it as a step ladder if I needed something in a tall room for painting a ceiling or something like that. For most indoors things I've got a smaller, lighter stepladder that's plenty tall enough.

Relentless81 · 18 May 2020 at 12:04

Something very obvious has dawned on me before I spend this kind of money on ladders that I potentially cant store. How the hell do you carry a tin of paint up the ladders and then paint with a brush and relatively heavy tin without spilling it and falling off!?

divuk83 · 18 May 2020 at 12:17

As it has already been said, avoid cheap telescopic ones from less reputable retailers as there are knockoff ones that are dangerous out there. Long but easily store-able ladders aren't cheap, or that compact. If you have limited space and only 1 use for them I would hire this: https://www.hss.com/hire/p/mitower It will be safer to work on that a ladder, will cost you less decent a long ladder and you won't have to store it when you are done!

Dave

Steampunk · 18 May 2020 at 12:35

Relentless81 said:
Something very obvious has dawned on me before I spend this kind of money on ladders that I potentially cant store. How the hell do you carry a tin of paint up the ladders and then paint with a brush and relatively heavy tin without spilling it and falling off!?

Step platform accessory? Or decant your paint into a smaller plastic bucket you can hang under a rung. Decorators use them so that you can pour out a smaller amount of paint without constantly dipping a brush into the full can and contaminating it. You can buy them for a pound or two from from any of the big DIY shops.

Relentless81 · 18 May 2020 at 18:48

Steampunk said:
Step platform accessory? Or decant your paint into a smaller plastic bucket you can hang under a rung. Decorators use them so that you can pour out a smaller amount of paint without constantly dipping a brush into the full can and contaminating it. You can buy them for a pound or two from from any of the big DIY shops.

I'll look into the options thanks, think I'm being thick but not sure how you hang a plastic container on the rung unless the handle clips on and off which I imagine is the case I'll have a look in Wilko's or something

I was looking on Toolstation before at ladders and they are quoted at 2.5 and 3.0m what are they for social distancing vertically or something!? Doesn't make sense they look taller in the pics and the reviews make out they are much taller but it doesn't say anywhere if the 2.5 or 3.0m is closed up or fully extended, weird

@divuk83 interesting idea but I really want my own, there are quite a few times I've wanted ladders at hand to do a job, like the neighbours tree overhanging the back of my garden that I want to hack down for example

Steampunk · 18 May 2020 at 18:55

Relentless81 said:
I'll look into the options thanks, think I'm being thick but not sure how you hang a plastic container on the rung unless the handle clips on and off which I imagine is the case I'll have a look in Wilko's or something

A bit of wire or rope and a carabiner clip to go through the handle and around a rung.

divuk83 · 19 May 2020 at 07:23

Handy paint pot for using on ladders: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4-X-600-...776511&hash=item3fa72646f7:g:9CMAAOSwzrlbZHLv
Can be had for under £2 each individually from elsewhere, but it was the first picture I found of it!

I have a set of these as my easily store-able general purpose ladders. They won't reach up high enough to do first floor windows easily (I wash them with a short extension pole thingy), but I can store them upright inside a cupboard as they are not that tall folded down. (I paid about £60 for mine) I had no trouble painting the first floor cladding under the windows with them. I have the cladding under the roof line to do, but I'm going to get scaffolding or hire a platform for that as I'm not comfortable wobbling about 7meters up on a ladder trying to sand and paint the woodwork!
https://www.screwfix.com/p/mac-allister-3-section-3-way-aluminium-combination-ladder-4-65m/536hg

I did look at a set of the longer combination ones linked above, but the don't fold down that small and I would have had trouble storing them, plus they were double the cost.

Going off topic (or off question) for most indoor jobs a step up platform is far more useful that step ladders. They end up on deal of the day type things quite regularly for under £20. I use mine all the time and I wouldn't be without one.
https://www.screwfix.com/p/mac-allister-aluminium-work-platform-470-x-600mm/5892p

Dave

Doobedoo · 19 May 2020 at 08:37

Hop ups are great as my dad calls them.

Been sorting out our hallway recently and really needed something to help me reach up to the top of the landing above the stairs. Decided to invest in a multi purpose ladder so I went for one of these.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/YOUNGMAN-576704-Youngman-Multi-Purpose-Ladder/dp/B00H84Y3J0/ref=sr_1_5?crid=1FPI2PJO7M7ND&dchild=1&keywords=youngman+multi+purpose+ladder&qid=1589873692&sprefix=youngman,aps,141&sr=8-5

Not sure if this would be suitable for the op. Looks like it'll be big enough and also folds down quite compact.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Foldable-M...057D0BJ9PSZ&psc=1&refRID=RN16Z0GQ2057D0BJ9PSZ

Relentless81 · 19 May 2020 at 08:44

divuk83 said:
Handy paint pot for using on ladders: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4-X-600-...776511&hash=item3fa72646f7:g:9CMAAOSwzrlbZHLv
Can be had for under £2 each individually from elsewhere, but it was the first picture I found of it!

I have a set of these as my easily store-able general purpose ladders. They won't reach up high enough to do first floor windows easily (I wash them with a short extension pole thingy), but I can store them upright inside a cupboard as they are not that tall folded down. (I paid about £60 for mine) I had no trouble painting the first floor cladding under the windows with them. I have the cladding under the roof line to do, but I'm going to get scaffolding or hire a platform for that as I'm not comfortable wobbling about 7meters up on a ladder trying to sand and paint the woodwork!
https://www.screwfix.com/p/mac-allister-3-section-3-way-aluminium-combination-ladder-4-65m/536hg

I did look at a set of the longer combination ones linked above, but the don't fold down that small and I would have had trouble storing them, plus they were double the cost.

Going off topic (or off question) for most indoor jobs a step up platform is far more useful that step ladders. They end up on deal of the day type things quite regularly for under £20. I use mine all the time and I wouldn't be without one.
https://www.screwfix.com/p/mac-allister-aluminium-work-platform-470-x-600mm/5892p

Dave

I'm going to get those that you've linked from Screwfix they are the best combination of height and storage and I don't fancy going any higher than that, like has been mentioned I'll hire a platform if I ever need to go higher so thanks for the link

I'll pick up some paint pots on Friday morning

Is it ok to sand the existing paint down on the lead flashing or is that a big no does anyone know?

Much appreciated for all the the responses

Doobedoo · 19 May 2020 at 08:53

Relentless81 said:
I'm going to get those that you've linked from Screwfix they are the best combination of height and storage and I don't fancy going any higher than that, like has been mentioned I'll hire a platform if I ever need to go higher so thanks for the link

I'll pick up some paint pots on Friday morning

Is it ok to sand the existing paint down on the lead flashing or is that a big no does anyone know?

Much appreciated for all the the responses

This may help.

https://www.propertydecorating.co.uk/blog/?p=248

Relentless81 · 19 May 2020 at 09:00

Doobedoo said:
This may help.

https://www.propertydecorating.co.uk/blog/?p=248

It does indeed thank you, shame it's already been painted, I'll just chip off the loose bits and repaint, maybe one day I'll get it all replaced

glenimp617 · 19 May 2020 at 09:05

I bought the 3.8m telescopic ladder in the amazon link above. Just needed to reach a high wall for painting.
It's good in the fact that I can stick it in a small cupboard / back of the garage for storage and I had no issue with extending it.

My main issue is that the thing didn't feel safe at all. I used it, but was very worried about the thing just sliding to the left or right. It also had a little spring/bounce to it when I started going up it.

I mean it did it's job so I'm happy I bought it, but not sure I'd want to use it very often.

Put it this way, I wouldn't want to use it for reaching the sky dish on the side of the house!