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I want to hang a picture in our stairwell above the stairs, but the stairs curve directly beneath the stairwell where I want to hang the picture. What is the best way to reach the wall above the stairwell?

enter image description here

TonE
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    Aside - use more than one hook, and make them solid. This stairwell is probably the main egress and you don't want things falling down in a quake or fire. – Criggie Jan 28 '22 at 00:01
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    Second - is that smoke detector on the right-hand side doing anything useful there? It would probably be better on the ceiling right over the top landing (ie, above photographer's head) – Criggie Jan 28 '22 at 00:02
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    **Move those detectors!** (Sorry @Criggie I think it needed to be said with a little less subtlety.) – jay613 Jan 28 '22 at 12:54
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    Just for everyone's peace of mind... one of the detectors is a wall mounted CO detector. The other is a faulty smoke detector which has a replacement on the ceiling but has been gathering dust on that shelf for the past 6 months. – TonE Jan 28 '22 at 13:59
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    @tone thank you for clarifying - we have a good+bad habit of noticing things in photos :) – Criggie Jan 28 '22 at 20:43

2 Answers2

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enter image description here

The stair blocks the feet of the ladder, so they can't slip towards the back.

bobflux
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    And it may be worth having a board at to top of the ladder so it does not poke holes in the wall. – Solar Mike Jan 27 '22 at 11:39
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    With ladders should always have someone to watch and maybe stabilize the ladder, even if it looks perfectly safe. – crip659 Jan 27 '22 at 12:08
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    A bonus answer: They make ladders that fold in the middle and can be used as platforms with the ends at different heights. One of those, if tall enough could be used for this situation and could also be used to make a work platform to hang (or paint) something high on the side walls of the stair case. Used one years ago to help my mom hang a large mirror over the stairs (wall on one side, open on the other). – FreeMan Jan 27 '22 at 12:43
  • Thanks all. @FreeMan - can you add a link to this kind of ladder? I think this is what I had at the back of my mind when I asked the question - I only have a step ladder so will need to buy a new ladder for this job - might as well get something versatile. – TonE Jan 27 '22 at 13:36
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    @TonE an internet search for "multi-position ladder" netted a variety of results. Big-blue and Big-orange seem to both carry a single Werner ladder with 3 hinges so it will fold into a flat work platform. The online giant carries a wide variety of no-name versions in a multitude of lengths and of unknown quality. As a note: A search for "folding ladder" will give you so many results you're not interested in, it's not worth the effort. – FreeMan Jan 27 '22 at 13:50
  • Of course, on more than one occasion, I've also used two standard A-frame ladders and a 2x12 to make temporary scaffolding. – FreeMan Jan 27 '22 at 13:51
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    +1 I don't know why, but there's a soft spot in my heart for crude MS paint sketches that elegantly and perfectly answer a question. @SolarMike Fuzzy slippers, towels, puffy socks, etc, also work well for wrapping the ladder feet against the wall. – J... Jan 27 '22 at 21:04
  • I've done exactly the same (as well as painting) using this approach, despite having a3-way ladder that's supposed to be good for use on stairs – Chris H Jan 28 '22 at 13:49
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    @J... the legs of old jeans for me, doubled over (jeans make good rags if you cut round the rivets so once worn out they end up in the garage anyway) – Chris H Jan 28 '22 at 13:51
  • It may be worth investing in life insurance as well! – Noah Wilder Jan 30 '22 at 01:34
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The accepted answer qualifies as "simplest" for sure. For those of us who view the hardware store as our "toy store," Get one of those combo/multiposition ladders. Extend one side a notch or two more than the other so that all the feet sit solidly on one stair or another. In fact, some models even allow you to extend one of the feet on each side so you can set the ladder "sideways" on a staircase.

This gives you an excuse to buy one of these ladders because they're very cool and handy to use in all sorts of situations.

Carl Witthoft
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    TBH, I thought that they were the dumbest thing in the world when my wife insisted that we get one. Then I needed to work above some stairs and discovered that they're _genius_! We now own two and they do make good scaffold bases, too. Only drawback - all that AL is _heavy_. – FreeMan Jan 28 '22 at 12:26
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    Yes, those multi-position ladders are surprisingly heavy. I actually got rid of mine and went back to single-position extension ladders, as they're a lot easier to carry around. – Milwrdfan Jan 28 '22 at 16:21
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    @FreeMan - I do agree that the ladders are a lot heavier, but I find mine easier to move despite the weight because it's so compact. I just put my full shoulder in the 2nd rung hole from the top, lift with my legs, and use the same hand to help stabilize & shift. This leaves a hand free for doors / tailgates and the compact size is easier to avoid obstacles. IMHO, of course... but I sure do love mine! – zmerch Jan 28 '22 at 20:06
  • Little Giant ladders are an absolute godsend for changing lightbulbs above stairwells. Truly a must for that kind of situation. They are lovely in all kinds of other situations too but that's the one use case where I really saw their point. – mander Don't reinstate Monica Jan 28 '22 at 22:56