Who hangs their ladders outside the garage?

[Teach]

I need easier access to my ladders (3) and am considering hanging them on ladder hangers on the back wall outside of the garage. I'm concerned about leaves, birds nesting, moisture, etc. on the ladders and against my (white) painted clapboard exterior. The thought for a mini-overhang room is there, but I thought I'd see what others have done.

Thanks in advance for your feedback.

 

[demondriven]

I hang mine on the side of my wooden fence. No problems as of yet but only been doing it for about 3 years.

 

[rodnok1]

I put 3' long gal pipes sticking out from steel building, works well. If the stupid wasps would stop nesting in them I'd be much happier. I keep 24' extension ladders (2) on it, frees up alot of room. I also mount them high so I can ride mower under them without cracking my nogging on them.

 

[sammm]

I wouldn't worry about aluminum, but would a fiberglass ladder be affected by the weather?

 

[malibu101]

I wouldn't worry about aluminum, but would a fiberglass ladder be affected by the weather?

After a few years of sun beating on it, it will first start to fade and then "splinter".
Trust me on this, at work we keep step ladders on some roofs where they are often needed and it is a bear to haul them up and down regularly. Exposed to the elements with no cover, they will breakdown.
It's easier (safer) for us to replace them every couple of years that bust our butts carrying them up and down regularly.
We don't use aluminum ladders as our company policy pretty much prohibits them.

 

[frank1380]

I have 2 fiberglass step ladders I keep inside the garage and an aluminum extension ladder that lays outside in the grass.

 

[Teach]

One of mine is a large wooden stepladder. Hmmm....wonder about enclosing them somehow...

 

[Stuart in MN]

I'd be more worried about the ladders disappearing than anything else.

 

[csp]

I'd be concerned about the ladders being an open invitation for thieves to break into the house.

TLC had a show a couple of years ago where a burglar would break into someone's home (w/permission) to show them how easy it is to rob a house. Accessible ladders was one of the top things not to have.

 

[twostory]

My county rules do not allow ladders to be stored outside. Check you local rules.

As for security, I never leave my ladders outside. I have 10 windows on the second story that would be easy to use as an entry point if you had a 15 ft ladder.

 

[MScott]

I hang mine (aluminum) outside against the side of the garage. For security, I use a bicycle cable lock tied into the hangers. Haven't had any problems with bird nests yet, but I would just remove them before the birds lay eggs if I see any starting.

 

[rockchucker]

I store mine outside in the shade locked up to the Fence. Of course they aren't always in the shade and you can see the deterioration due to UV Exposure.

 

[28HopUp]

I will echo concerns over possible theft or use by a burglar to break into your own home. How often do you need to use the ladders? I keep mine in the garage using two brackets I made that are suspended from the ceiling. I only use the ladder a couple of times a year, so having it up and out of the way suits me fine.

 

[Bill Bowman]

I'm fortunate enough to have a shed that I can hang the ladders in. They're up in the air, and it's space that normally doesn't get used in a shed. Bill

 

[hydramatic]

85% of a shop is airspace...go up young man.

 

[e-tek]

85% of a shop is airspace...go up young man.

X2. Tho I like to live dangerously - mine hangs above my Show-Car!

 

[Stephenw]

http://www.shopngarage.com/forum/index.php?topic=125.0

 

[1984GMC]

My county rules do not allow ladders to be stored outside. Check you local rules.

As for security, I never leave my ladders outside. I have 10 windows on the second story that would be easy to use as an entry point if you had a 15 ft ladder.

Tell your county to start making your house payment , then they can tell you where you can hang your ladders, Till then Piss off.

 

[metal1313]

i store my longer ladders outside. i have a 40ft, 28ft, 24, and 16ft that i keep next to the garage. for security i have a kryptonite chain lock attached to an eye-bolt that goes through the foundation of the garage, so they arent easily stolen

 

[Teach]

I hear you all on the security issues...although I live in a very rural, low-crime (so far, knock on wood) area.

To the guy who has his hanging above his show car: I'd like to avoid that.

So no one who stores them outside has built any type of overhang or enclosure?

 

[6768rogues]

My son took my ladders. Now I don't have to store them, but it ***** when I need one....

 

[A29]

Hung mine on the wood fence outside the kitchen window. A Robin stared about 5 nest till she decided on what rung and then laid 4 eggs. Watched her raise em from the kitchen window.

 

[tcianci]

I have mine and one of my neighbors (I mean his ladder) hanging on the back of the shed. They're all fiberglass and in pretty much a shaded area. Been there for many years, no problems. I ended up with myheighbors ladder after I rescued it from him...he had it leaning kinda cocked on the ground against the back of his garage in full sun and it kinda took a "set". It's a little springy until you get on it and then it touches the building with both rails OK.

 

[FNFS2000]

I do and I hate it, fade, flex, deterioration...

 

[Boyd Who]

I have my 24' aluminum extension ladder hanging on the side of my little garage, next to the neighbours fence. Nobody can see it unless they walk right up to the garage.

 

[mopar4wd]

I have an aluminum one hanging on the back of my shed. It is under a slight overhang from the shed. Been out there since I moved in 8 years without issue.

 

[bazzateer]

How about hanging them on the back of the garage then 'boxing' them in with locking access panels?

 

[1950ChevySuburban]

Mine lay outside against the workshop, but after reading this, they'll be locked up neatly outside.

 

[JimmyC01]

I have mine hanging off the overhang support posts behing my workshop. The overhang is 40 x 15. I have had issues with wasps nesting in the rungs of the aluminium extention ladder, but that has been it. I am storing a trailer and tractor implements under the overhang and the ladder is not in the way.