Ladder advice

[info2x]

Well I need a ladder. I can get most of my house with my 10 foot A-Frame ladder, but the second story needs an extension ladder. I measured it all out and it looks like a 28 foot ladder will work, but I'm going with a 32 foot one on the off chance I really need to hit the peak of the house where the ground slopes away.

I'm going with Werner since I've had good luck with my Dad's Werner 32 foot aluminum ladder on his house. It has also given me experience dealing with such a large ladder.

I'm about 190 and could stand to loose a few pounds but I'm going with a 300lb capacity ladder.

The real question comes down to fiberglass or aluminum. All of the power lines are buried in our neighborhood so I'm not worried about hitting a power line. The only electrical work that might happen is adding a flood light or two. I know how well aluminum ladders last (Dad's is 30 years old), can I expect the same life out of a fiberglass one? What kind of durability issues are there? The weight difference is only about 4-5 lbs between the two and I picked up both at Lowes and didn't have issues, so that isn't a big concern for me.



What do you guys think?

 

[PeterT]

I built a twenty footer from spare 2x4s, its a little heavy and wobbley, but the price was right.

 

[strnge]

Aluminum is the way to go. You can leave it outside and it will not get damaged. Fiberglass will get damaged by the sun and weather changes. I bought a 32 foot one on craigslist for $100 and it will last me another 30 years.

 

[Addrock]

I buy only type 1A ladders (orange typical), your life depends on them. It sounds like you are figuring weight of yourself and material. Also remember you would prefer 3 rungs above the roof line.

 

[info2x]

Aluminum is the way to go. You can leave it outside and it will not get damaged. Fiberglass will get damaged by the sun and weather changes. I bought a 32 foot one on craigslist for $100 and it will last me another 30 years.

I'll be storing it inside no matter which material I go with. I've been trying craigslist for awhile now and most of the guys are trying to sell 28' and shorter ladders. The couple of 32' ladders haven't been far off in price from HD/Lowes and don't warrant the price. One guy was at full retail without the rope . I also don't have a good way of transporting the ladder so that drives up the cost of a craigslist buy.

I buy only type 1A ladders (orange typical), your life depends on them. It sounds like you are figuring weight of yourself and material. Also remember you would prefer 3 rungs above the roof line.

Type 1A ladders = 300 lbs . My Dad's is 250lb cap and I've never felt any issues with it, but I want the added flexibility of the 300lb cap.

I wasn't thinking about the extra rungs, but the 32 foot will work there as well. I can already get on top of the roof from other parts of the house, but the pitch is steep enough that I don't feel comfortable cleaning the gutters 2 stories up.

 

[waltmcq]

Why don't you borrow your dads when you need to go to the peak?

 

[info2x]

He's still in NJ. I moved out to MI a few years ago.

 

[WVBrady]

I have so much rheumatism in my shoulders now that my heavy duty ladder is hard for me to handle, but if you are going to be spending any time on it, the wide steps are easier on the feet.

 

[casetractorfarmer]

Aluminum is the way to go. You can leave it outside and it will not get damaged. Fiberglass will get damaged by the sun and weather changes. I bought a 32 foot one on craigslist for $100 and it will last me another 30 years.

Here you leave a aluminum one out side the meth heads will have it gone in a hour doesent mater if its chained up they still take it yet they wont take my pos truck

 

[Gasket]

I have a 32 foot fiberglass ladder, I think type 1a or whatever is the highest weight capacity. It is very heavy when extended, much heavier then an aluminum ladder. I am a strong guy, but I hate using this ladder because of the weight. If I was to do it again, I would get an aluminum or a shorter fiberglass ladder. I could have gotten a way with a 28 foot ladder. As for transporting it, I brought it home from HD on the roof of my Cavalier. I didn't have my truck back then.

 

[snorky18]

I bought a 40' aluminum off craigslist for $200, but it took about 4 months of watching like a hawk. 32 came up rarely, 28 more often, and plenty of 24s.

If it's stored inside, I'd probably go fiberglass.

Your life is expensive, and ladders (even new), are cheap. Don't build one.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I'd prefer a Werner or Louisville fiberglass ladder. I shy away from the regular aluminum ladders unless they are built for the fire service.


http://www.govdeals.com/index.cfm?fa=Main.Item&itemid=3465&acctid=12 Check out the middle picture, that's a 40' bangor ladder. It's supposed to take a minimum of 4 guys to raise.

This one, oh what a mistake to sell it, that's a lawsuit waiting to happen. Other wise, I'd jump all over that ladder.
http://www.govdeals.com/index.cfm?fa=Main.Item&itemid=159&acctid=1754

 

[info2x]

I bought a 40' aluminum off craigslist for $200, but it took about 4 months of watching like a hawk. 32 came up rarely, 28 more often, and plenty of 24s.

If it's stored inside, I'd probably go fiberglass.

Your life is expensive, and ladders (even new), are cheap. Don't build one.

That's what I'm seeing. Rarely a 32 that the price is justified. I went and visited a few and the sellers were unreasonable IMHO. I wasn't going to build one, not a chance. I few hundred for a ladder is cheap compared to the time lost from an accident assuming it doesn't kill me.

Here you leave a aluminum one out side the meth heads will have it gone in a hour doesent mater if its chained up they still take it yet they wont take my pos truck

I don't think I'd have the problem, but I have no excuse not to store it inside.

I have a 32 foot fiberglass ladder, I think type 1a or whatever is the highest weight capacity. It is very heavy when extended, much heavier then an aluminum ladder. I am a strong guy, but I hate using this ladder because of the weight. If I was to do it again, I would get an aluminum or a shorter fiberglass ladder. I could have gotten a way with a 28 foot ladder. As for transporting it, I brought it home from HD on the roof of my Cavalier. I didn't have my truck back then.

Thanks for the input.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I'm no expert on extension ladders, but those who say they are hard to handle might need a couple of tips.

First, when carrying it, make it a 2 person job. Less chance of bash into something. I have my wife help me with my 10' aluminum step ladder for this reason.

Second, one man can setup an extension ladder assuming you are not going over shrubbery or other obstructions on the ground. Lay the ladder face down, perpendicular to the wall, with the feet touching the wall. Working from the top of the ladder, "walk" it up (from underneath) until it touches the wall. Then move the feet back from the wall. Extended the top section.

If you have an overhang, place the feet of the ladder about a foot further out than the overhang. Have a second person use their feet to hold the ladder's feet while you are walking it up.

If you have shrubbery or other ground obstructions, it gets a bit tricky. Attach a long rope to the top of the ladder. Start like you did for the overhang. As the ladder approaches vertical, the helper needs to move around back of the first person and grab the rope. Once the ladder passes vertical the rope person has the load and can lower the ladder up to the wall while the other person makes certain that the feet don't move.

 

[Gasket]

To be a little more specific, my 32 foot fiberglass layer is hard to handle with only one person. Most of the time I need to climb onto my roof, I am the only one home. With 2 people, it is not a problem. I have shrubbery and an overhang where I can set the ladder. I can carry it by myself and get it vertical by myself. It get a bit unstable when I start extending it while it is vertical so I coul reach my roof. I always do this by myself, but I fear one day I will lose control of the ladder and break a window.

 

[jhelrey]

Menards is where I got a great price in a ladder. Plus, you can check pricing out on their website now.

I hate putting up fiberglass extension ladders alone, in the wind, on a hill... bla

 

[Jallred]

I just used a borrowed fiberglass 28ft type 1a ladder today. It is stable when you are on it, and not too bad to raise. My ladder brand of prefrence is Bauer. Made in USA one of the only ones left. I just got the fiberglass 8 ft A frame step ladder in the super heavy duty type1AA 375 lb rating. I love it, very stable. It is heavy but not too bad. I have personaly seen the aftermath of two people who fell when their ladder failed. In bolth cases it was the begining of the end for them. They never recovered right and were bolth dead within three years. Buy quality ladders.

 

[info2x]

Menards is where I got a great price in a ladder. Plus, you can check pricing out on their website now.

I hate putting up fiberglass extension ladders alone, in the wind, on a hill... bla

Thanks. I Didn't think to check Menards since they aren't local, but the place I've been looking at is still cheaper.

I just used a borrowed fiberglass 28ft type 1a ladder today. It is stable when you are on it, and not too bad to raise. My ladder brand of prefrence is Bauer. Made in USA one of the only ones left. I just got the fiberglass 8 ft A frame step ladder in the super heavy duty type1AA 375 lb rating. I love it, very stable. It is heavy but not too bad. I have personaly seen the aftermath of two people who fell when their ladder failed. In bolth cases it was the begining of the end for them. They never recovered right and were bolth dead within three years. Buy quality ladders.

Yeah falling isn't high on my priority list. It's on of the reasons why I didn't get a couple of the few CL ladders I came across.