Home Improvement Stack Exchange
Home Improvement Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [ladder]

59 questions
19
votes
10 answers

How do I calculate the length of a ladder I need to reach a certain height?

My roof-line is 24' from the ground. What length ladder should I purchase to ensure I can reach the this height safely? I'm guessing there is a "safe" angle (a) for a ladder, regardless of the height (h). So more generally what is an easy way to…
shufler
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16
votes
2 answers

How do I use an extension ladder to get onto my roof?

I have a two storey house and need to get onto the roof to apply some heat paint on my furnace exhaust pipe before winter. It looks about 20-22' from the ground to the edge my eaves, so to be safe I figure I need a 28' extension ladder. The ground…
shufler
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13
votes
6 answers

Tips for keeping a ladder steady when it is leaning against a sloped roof

I cannot come up with a reliable way to keep the ladder steady when it's leaning against the shed roof. I need to paint the trim two storeys up. When the right side of the ladder touches the roof edge at the point indicated by the arrow in the…
mr blint
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10
votes
6 answers

Can I lean a ladder against tempered glass without damaging the window?

We are building, and just now after the windows have been installed is that I realised they are really high up. The window is made of tempered glass 8mm thick, 3.5 m wide, 2.5 m high and starts at 3.5 meters above the ground, so it is 6 m at its…
Luiz Borges
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10
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2 answers

Suitable ladder for reaching stair well above corner stairs

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?
TonE
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9
votes
7 answers

How do I safely place an extension ladder near windows so I can clean my gutters?

I am trying to get an extension ladder in position so I can finally clean these gutters. I have a stabilizer, but it's narrower than the span of 2 windows, and I'm very uncomfortable putting the ladder up this high without it. I'm having a real…
Alex Launi
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7
votes
1 answer

Can I use two ladders to create a makeshift scaffold?

I have a really high stairwell to do walls around (cca 18 ft). Scaffolding is impractical. I had rigged a temporary platform that I used to hang drywall and it worked well but I had to remove it because it was anchored into the structural framing…
amphibient
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6
votes
5 answers

How can I work on eaves of my house, 30-feet high?

I have repair work and painting I want to do on the eaves and gutters of my house. In some places they are up to 30 feet off the ground and I would not feel safe being on ladder that high. One option may be to rent a scissors lift which might cost…
Tyler Durden
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5
votes
4 answers

How to (safely) retract and lower a 40' extension ladder?

Last time I was using a 40' extension ladder, it was a major challenge to retract it back from being extended and up against a wall. There were two of us and it was seriously scary. Could have gone wrong and crashed, doing damage or worse to nearby…
amphibient
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5
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4 answers

How can I safely replace a light fixture above a stairwell?

In my 1911 home, there is a stairwell that has a 180 degree turn with a landing, and there is a light fixture directly overhead (centered over the railing) that I would like to replace with a pendant light. When I'm standing directly below it…
Parker
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4
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5 answers

How to reach outside light high above sloped cellar door?

I'm looking for suggestions on how to reach this outside light. I have a pole to change the bulb but I need to get up there to repair the socket. I have a 14 foot stepladder. To use it over the Bilco door I'd have to build a platform about 3 feet…
jay613
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4
votes
3 answers

Cutting ceiling joist for attic ladder install

Looking to take advantage of some open space in our attic and want to install an attic ladder. This would require cutting some of the ceiling joist. Before I do can anyone help me answer the following questions: 1) Can the joist be cut to make room…
slock
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4
votes
3 answers

Need 12' ladder on second floor but staircase is too tight

I have a fan on a high ceiling (maybe 16 feet high) that I want to replace. I need at least 12 foot type A ladder but it needs to fold because I have to take it up some tight stairs and corners to get it to the master bedroom. I tried rending a…
ventsyv
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3
votes
1 answer

What's the difference between Interior and Exterior scaffolding?

I've been looking into getting some scaffolding for some jobs around the house. Honestly, I may need it for both inside and outside. I see various products where they specifically list scaffolding as being "interior" or "exterior". I cannot find an…
Daniel
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3
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2 answers

Is it safe to use an extension ladder in the garage?

I had a line of insulation decide it no longer wanted to stay attached to the garage rafters. Bought some fresh (and better) stuff. Went to put it up, but my standard stepladder is coming up short (literally). I've got a nice extension ladder,…
Brian Knoblauch
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