What should I use an extension ladder for in the garden?
08/04/2016
In this week’s blog, we’re looking at yet another essential product for all your outdoor maintenance work. Last week, we covered the stepladder and its uses. This week, it’s the turn of the extension ladder – which is essential for a number of popular spring/summer jobs.
Using your extension ladder
The extension ladder is a must for many jobs that require access to a significant height. When choosing your extension ladder, you’ll have the choice of a double extension ladder or triple one. Which one you pick will be entirely dependent on your height requirements and storage space – a triple ladder tends to be more compact and convenient to store.
The types of scenarios you’d need your extension ladder for include:
- Guttering maintenance and repair
- Any roofing jobs
- Window fitting, cleaning or painting
- Painting the exterior of a home
With the temperatures having warmed up and the risk of showers having decreased, spring is a popular time to get all those jobs sorted.
Some of our best extension ladders suited to these jobs include:
- Werner Trade Double Extension Ladders
- Zarges Industrial Double Extension Ladders
- Lyte Industrial Triple Extension Ladders
When choosing your ladder, make sure you work out your ladder height requirements. Typically, you’ll need a ladder of around 5.8m to reach the window and walls of a two-storey home. For roof jobs, a ladder of 8.15m will suffice for a two-storey home. You’ll require more height for three-storey homes.
When not to use extension ladders
While it may be tempting to take advantage of your extension ladder’s height to trim your hedge, this is not recommended. Leaning an extension ladder into a hedge while trimming increase the risk of the ladder over balancing or falling through the hedge. This not only means a risk of a fall, you might also come into contact with the sharp edges of the cutter and cause yourself a serious injury.
Instead, we recommend a garden ladder for jobs of this sort, like the Henchman Platform Tripod Ladder with fully adjustable legs. Alternatively, depending on the height of your hedge, you can use a stepladder or a platform step.
Safety and extension ladders
Keeping safe on your extension ladder is key. To avoid accidents from happening, make sure you secure your ladder properly when you’re accessing another level. Also, follow all the ladder basics:
- Make sure your ladder is sat on firm, level ground
- Don’t overload your ladder
- Keep three points of contact at all times
- Don’t overreach
- Avoid work that imposes a side loading
- Don’t stand on the top three steps of the ladder
For more tips on ladder safety, why not book onto our Ladders and Steps Training Course?
Give us a call on 01282 615517 for more information on the ladders listed in today’s blog. You can also get in contact with our Course Enquiries team on the same number to find out or book on to any one of our Safety Training courses.