Questions tagged [ladder]

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0 votes
1 answer
201 views

Can I safely install an attic ladder here?

I would like to take advantage of some available attic space to use as storage being that we are extremely tight on space in our old Victorian row house. My plan is to install an attic ladder and ...
1 vote
0 answers
159 views

DIY Attic ladder or hire someone? [closed]

This is what my attic access looks like. Is it feasible to install ladder access myself or should I hire someone?
0 votes
0 answers
203 views

My wooden Fakro attic ladder is not trimmed properly according to manual. How dangerous is it to use?

It says that when unfolded, the metal arms attaching the top segment to the door frame should be resting on and supported by the two adjustment bolts in the door frame, the feet should be flush to the ...
6 votes
5 answers
1k views

How can I stabilize the footing of a ladder?

Whenever I saw a professional on a ladder, there was someone else at the foot of the ladder holding the sides of the ladder. Now that my rain gutters are frozen solid, they are creaking, and I'm ...
1 vote
3 answers
7k views

How to install springs on werner loft/attic ladders?

I've just purchased the this loft/attic ladder. The installation instructions show that the springs must be installed while the ladder is closed (less tension in springs). Problem is even when closed ...
1 vote
2 answers
3k views

Ladder is warped; how much is too much?

I recently bought a 28' fiberglass extension ladder (big-name brand from the blue box store), but I found that it's a bit warped. When I lean it against the house, with both feet firmly planted and ...
0 votes
2 answers
450 views

How I fix this attic door misalignment. Hinge bent

Pictures Just moved into this home and this attic door does not close. Looks like the hinge (door hinge like part) is bent. How do I fix this? I don't see any parts available either. I am worried that ...
0 votes
2 answers
101 views

Looking advice for repairing gutter leaking

I have a gutter leaking. The start price is $450 if I hire a company. I wonder if I could do it by myself but not sure what materials. I saw the leaking is from the joint section of the gutter and ...
7 votes
4 answers
19k views

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 ...
6 votes
5 answers
54k views

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 ...
0 votes
1 answer
2k views

Attic Ladder Spring Lift Issue

The left-hand side spring on my attic ladder now pops off the retaining thing when it is put back up. It then will come down, but will not go back up unless I manually lift the spring up-n-over. ...
2 votes
2 answers
249 views

Is ladder less safe at greater angles?

If I only go up to 3 ft from the leaning wall back for my ladder's feet, I start getting pretty steep on the angle it closes approaching 90 degrees. I feel (but I question my intuition) that I am ...
20 votes
10 answers
195k views

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 ...
2 votes
3 answers
2k views

How can I repair an attic ladder that doesn't operate smoothly?

I have an attic ladder that is warped somewhere and is really hard to fold and unfold. Eventually that warp caused too much pressure on one side of the ladder and the bolt holding the elbow of the arm ...
0 votes
1 answer
185 views

I’m 5,4 120 pounds and can’t pull rope up on extension ladder Why? [closed]

I am having trouble operating (pulling the rope) an extension ladder? I need to do this to get certified to work for Dish. Is there a better way too easily extend the rope ladder, without requiring ...
0 votes
1 answer
7k views

How can I extract broken off shutter-lok fasteners from brick?

I'm in the process of replacing vinyl shutters on my brick-front home. I'm replacing the existing ones with identical sized new ones that will use the same drilled holes. The problem I'm having is ...
1 vote
2 answers
1k views

When considering a swing-down attic ladder, is landing space typically a maximum or minimum value?

I'm looking at installing an attic ladder in my garage. I'm just getting the fuzzy feelings of "I would like to do this project" so I don't have a whole lot of specifics, but in doing the ...
1 vote
1 answer
305 views

Small folding loft/attic ladder [closed]

I'm wanting to install a loft ladder. I would prefer one of those nice folding wooden ladders, however upon researching the various types, it seems that these are quite a bit longer than my current ...
13 votes
6 answers
4k views

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 ...
1 vote
3 answers
929 views

What kind of ladder on slope?

I want to be able reach the eaves for cleaning. The ground is on a slope. What would be a good way to get up there? What it to be safe, not cost a fortune. I don't need to go up very often. ...
2 votes
3 answers
461 views

Treehouse ladder - 12ft and corrosion resistant from pressure treated wood?

I'm designing an elevated deck/swingset combo and am trying to figure out how I'm going to build the ladder. But I've got a couple of challenges. One is that the main posts will be ground-contact ...
10 votes
2 answers
3k views

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 ...
1 vote
0 answers
975 views

Proper way to reframe joists to install attic ladder?

I'm looking to replace the attic ladder with 25.5 x 55 opening ( Century Elite AL2511R5 ). After removing my old ladder, the opening looks like the following : I'm looking to change joists as follows ...
2 votes
4 answers
2k views

How can I replace light bulbs in a fixture 20 feet high?

I have a light fixture in an entryway that is about 17 feet high and several of the bulbs in the fixture are burned out. It is a candelabra type fixture with a glass enclosure, so a person has to be ...
1 vote
3 answers
4k views

Join two extension ladders together to make an a-frame ladder?

***IMPORTANT EDIT - in reviewing the answers / comments, none felt safe, so if you come across this post, I'd definitely recommend reading the notes people have made advising against this. The ...
0 votes
5 answers
7k views

How to safely place ladder over porch overhang to get to Gable Peak?

I am looking to do some work at the peak of the gable shown in the picture. It's about 25ft to the peak from the walk way. I don't have an assistant, so I am looking for advice on how to safely place ...
2 votes
4 answers
292 views

How can I clean windows and gutters from a ladder in a narrow side yard?

I want to clean out my 2nd story gutters and wash windows, but my side yard is about 5 feet between house and fence. Considering the overhang, there's probably 4 feet of horizontal I'd prefer not to ...
2 votes
1 answer
3k views

Install New Attic Access Ladder Perpendicular to Joists

I am trying to install a new access ladder to our attic, cutting a new hole etc. There's only one room in our 1038sq house (built in 1952) that will work, and after taking a closer look there is a ...
0 votes
1 answer
112 views

How long an extension ladder do I need?

I'm planning to do some projects around my house. One is to change a light at the exterior peak of my garage, which is about 28' tall. The other is some painting on the side of my house, which is ...
4 votes
5 answers
215 views

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 ...
5 votes
4 answers
17k views

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 ...
5 votes
3 answers
30k views

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 ...
2 votes
4 answers
470 views

Accessing Upper Shelves of 8 feet high pantry

I am planning a kitchen pantry which will be 8 feet high and 24 inch deep. I need a solution to reach upper shelves of pantry - without having to pull dining chairs or put a folding step stool in ...
0 votes
0 answers
159 views

How does this "Multi-Way Ladder" work?

I bought a used ladder a few days ago. It's an Eagle brand "Multi-Way Ladder" that can be used as a step ladder or a short straight extension ladder. The model number is LP-711E. ...
2 votes
1 answer
2k views

Standing up extension ladder in narrow space

I am painting a tall house using a 40-foot extension ladder that is composed of two 20-foot sections. So, in its shortest, unextended form, the ladder is 20 feet high. The problem I'm running into is ...
0 votes
1 answer
127 views

Putting up posters in hard to reach places

I'd like to place posters in a hard to reach spot in my home. The posters are pretty sturdy. They're glossy prints on thick cardstock paper. I'd like to place them up along a tall wall, except that ...
0 votes
1 answer
115 views

How to remove one step from a three step ladder?

I bought a three step ladder for some alternative use. However, I need to remove the first bottom step, but don’t really know where to start. Is there a smart way to remove it, except for just cutting ...
9 votes
7 answers
6k views

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 ...
3 votes
1 answer
4k views

Can I install attic ladder perpendicular to joists?

I only have one area in old house on the 3rd floor where I can put a pull down attic ladder. That is a narrow hallway but the ladder would need to be installed perpendicular to joists. It is an old ...
1 vote
3 answers
91 views

How do I replace an old ladder's anti-scratch strip?

An acquaintance of mine an old aluminum ladder, sort of like this one: The ladder used to have some kind of rubbery strip at the forward edge of its top platform, to prevent it from scratching the ...
3 votes
2 answers
2k views

Ladder fall protection options

Are there any good fall protection options when working on an extension ladder? I need to fix some siding near the top of my 2 story house. I have thought about using something like a roof anchor, ...
3 votes
1 answer
2k views

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 ...
0 votes
0 answers
3k views

How I fixed a broken spring in an extension ladder rung lock

I found many people have this issue with older ladders. The biggest issue is older ladders use quite a different rung lock, so there's no replacement parts. The spring on my ladder is a coil spring, ...
1 vote
0 answers
187 views

Strengthening a Bamboo Ladder (After a Mistake)

I am a newbie to this so please be gentle. I had some dried out bamboo lying around and for some reason, I decided to make a ladder out of it. I got one of my measurements wrong and cut out a notch ...
3 votes
2 answers
2k views

Spray can pole extender

I have a hornets' nest that I want to spray with insecticide. The hive is approximately 20-25ft from ground level. The insecticide that I have is in a aerosol spray can with a large actuator. ...
1 vote
1 answer
2k views

Removing Pool Stairs From In Ground Pool

I just purchased a home (well back in Feb) and this is the first year of having a pool, and I am attempting to remove the side stairs so I can cover the pool for winter. My stairs look exactly like ...
0 votes
2 answers
407 views

Will a fully collapsed extension ladder safely support twice its duty rating?

My grandfather has a Werner 24' aluminum 200-lb type III extension ladder. I want to know if, in its fully collapsed state, it will safely support ~300 lbs. By my reasoning, if it will safely support ...
2 votes
0 answers
183 views

House davit? Do they exist?

On boats there is a often a boom with a winch called a "davit". It is essentially a sort of crane that allows things to be loaded on and off the boat. Houses do not seem to normally have davits, even ...
2 votes
1 answer
457 views

Determine the best placement for attic ladder installation

I have recently purchased an attic ladder from HD to install myself in my townhouse. I have determined 2 good installation points that will not interfere with future furniture placement. The options ...
4 votes
3 answers
342 views

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 ...