Can you make an extension ladder safer?

**Tiger** · 3rd February 2007, 03:52 AM

Can't sleep tonight, so I'm reading the Forums and am putting off the inevitable but one of the worst jobs ever created - cleaning gutters. I've got an extension ladder which I rest against the gutter, climb up and clean. I've read some of the horror stories about members falling off ladders and I'm now seriously thinking about leaving the gutters and hurting myself some other way. A couple of the gutters are several feet off the ground necessitating the use of the extension ladder but I never feel comfortable on these things especially resting against old gutters. What can you do to make cleaning gutters safer with these extension ladders? You guys clean your gutters, don't you .....?

**Honorary Bloke** · 3rd February 2007, 05:48 AM

The easiest thing to make your extension ladder safer is to attach one of these stabilizers.

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?actio...C78&lpage=none

Probably carry them at Bunnings or Mitre10. They keep the ladder off the gutter and prevent side sway. Happy cleaning.

**Doughboy** · 3rd February 2007, 08:02 AM

Tiger

You need to get a mate to do it for you. Give 'em a six pack or have a BBQ and avoid the angst.

Mate if you seriously dont feel comfortable just dont do it. you are a long time injured or worse. There must be someone you can 'bribe' into it.

Other than that if it is you who must climb said ladder go get the stabilizer HB has suggested, but also pick up levelling feet as well. They allow you to use the ladder on uneven ground by being adjustable at each leg.

AND get someone to hold the damn ladder. Tell someone you are going to go up the ladder and make a pre-arranged time to call them again so they know you have not hurt yourself.

Pete

**Bob38S** · 3rd February 2007, 02:03 PM

Agree with Doughboy on all of his points.

I'm fortunate that my house is low set but my shed has 3.6m gutters - as an extra I run a length of silver rope through the top hollow rung [with a loop through it] and then down to a heavy tent peg driven into the ground on each side - ladder doesn't shift. I use my ladder to get me up on the roof [to use the blower] rather than move it along the gutter for cleaning out by hand.

Regards,
Bob

**scooter** · 3rd February 2007, 02:55 PM

Ladder with levelling feet.

Stabiliser legs that splay out sideways from bottom of ladder.

Standoffs that enable ladder to be leaned against fascia rather than the guttering.

**journeyman Mick** · 3rd February 2007, 04:36 PM

A point to note which may make your ladder usage safer is that, strictly speaking, ladders are for access only, not for working from. To work at height you should really use scaffolding of some sort.

Mick (who always follows all the WH&S rules

)

**Stuart** · 3rd February 2007, 05:09 PM

Easiest way to make an extension safe - pay someone else to climb it.....

**savage** · 3rd February 2007, 08:40 PM

I prefer those multi function ladders, you know the ones that can be locked in different configurations. It has 4 sections, so 3 are straight up and the top section I set at an angle, so that it rests on the roof tiles. But I guess it depends on the hight of your roof also.

**rhancock** · 3rd February 2007, 09:05 PM

Ladders have never been, and never will be safe! If you don't feel like gambling with your life, then don't buy a ladder, pay someone younger and more agile to do it.

I wish I could find it, but there was a study that said that performance on a ladder decreases after the age of 30 (yes three - oh, thirty) so as an aged 35 yo, after a youth spent walking along rooflines, three storeys up, I pay other people to climb ladders.

Oh, and get gutter guard so your gutters never need cleaning - wish I could afford it!

**AlexS** · 3rd February 2007, 09:16 PM

Originally Posted by Doughboy

Mate if you seriously dont feel comfortable just dont do it. you are a long time injured or worse.

Excellent advice for anything to do with the workshop.

**Waldo** · 3rd February 2007, 10:31 PM

Originally Posted by Tiger

A couple of the gutters are several feet off the ground necessitating the use of the extension ladder

G'day Tiger,

You must be one of the those vertically challenged people.

**soundman** · 3rd February 2007, 11:02 PM

In the past I used to climb on roofs every day installing TV antennas.

The two best things I ever did for a lader was cutting the top rung out and getting two vice grip clamps.

Having the top rung out makes it much easier to get on and off the ladder.... which is the most dangerous time..... you can step thru the lader rather than round it.

the vice grip clamps I place either side of the ladder as soon as I reach the gutter. stops the lader sliding sideways. If it was a bit windy or I wanted to be doubly sure I would tie off between the clamps too.

QLD work place health and safety have got realy conchy on ladders .

cheers

**squashedfrog1** · 3rd February 2007, 11:24 PM

If you do get up there, install some really good quality leaf guard. No more getting up there again.

sf

**watson** · 4th February 2007, 12:01 AM

Hate bloody extension ladders!
We've got a Bailey and when you read the safe working load is a 100Kg....hell, that's me and a hammer!
Lucky I'm getting too wobbly to get up the thing
Regards,
Noel

**Stuart** · 4th February 2007, 12:43 AM

I used to scramble up and down a massive (and shonky) ladder to the top of the auditorium at school when I did all the theatre lighting.

Oh to be young and carefree (and much lighter!!) again.

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