Secure an Extension Ladder
Extension ladders are often necessary for home projects, including painting your siding, cleaning your gutters, or washing your windows. Whatever your project, the first thing you need to do is make sure the extension ladder you use is completely secure. When it comes to home improvement projects, safety should always come first.
Instructions
1. Start by making sure the extension ladder is in the proper position. To get the ladder at the proper angle, place your feet against the bottom of the ladder legs. Then tilt the ladder at an angle so that your hands can grasp the rungs directly in front of your shoulders, while keeping your arms completely extended in front of you.
2. Secure a wooden board behind the extension ladder's legs to make sure it won't slip when you climb it. This technique works best when the ladder is placed on a wooden deck. In this case, use a drill to secure three inch deck screws to either side of the wooden board.
3. Dig small holes into the ground where you're placing the legs of the extension ladder. This technique works best when the ladder is placed in a yard or garden. Dig holes about six inches deep in the ground using a garden trowel. With the shoes, or bottom portion, of the ladder flipped up, place the legs of the ladder in the holes you dug.
4. Use a ladder stabilizer for further security. Most ladder stabilizers are secured to the top of the extension ladder using a bolt under the ladder's top rung. The sides of the stabilizer then rest against your home or structure the ladder is leaned against. Follow manufacturer's instructions for proper use of a ladder stabilizer.
Related posts
A tall ladder is a useful tool for climbing up the side of a wall to reach a roof. Secure the top of the ladder to the roof so that there is no chance of the ladder lurching sideways or falling aw...
An extension ladder comes in handy for many jobs. These extra-long ladders are used to reach high levels that a regular ladder won't reach. Transportation can be tricky. Instructions...
Stand Up an Extension LadderExtension ladders are a must have for homeowners. They allow immediate access to many areas of the home that are not easily accessible. Used improperly, however, they a...
Properly using an extension ladder to reach rooftops or high walls will keep you safe. Extension ladders stretch to heights beyond the reach of a stepladder. You can use extension ladders for heig...
Extension ladders come in handy for jobs that a regular ladder won't reach. These specialty ladders can be rented in extended heights, starting at 18-feet tall. If you need something taller, some...
