I am not sure what forum I should post this question in so I am open for suggestions. I have a situation that I don't know the best and cheapest way to for me to reach the walls so that I can paint the walls on the sides of my steps that lead from the first floor to the second floor, seventeen feet. I also have to do plaster repairs on one of the walls and where that wall meets the ceiling. What type of accessory do I need for an extension ladder, which I assume is the best way to go? I have a 29 foot extension ladder already. The steps, 13, go straight up with no landing or turn at all and the side walls run the whole way to the ceiling. At the top you come off of the step into the living room. Thanks for the assistance.

 

2 ways we do it.

Put the extension up on the back wall, (above the steps) and run a plank to a step ladder on the top landing.

OR
Purchase/rent a 5-way combo ladder.

 

What I have always done when working off of stairs is take a block and set it on the lower step to make the two steps even then set the ladder on it. They also make a clamp on extension for one foot of the ladder but I have never used one.

 

Very unsafe. OSHA and insurance agents would have a heart attack seeing that.

 

http://www.paintstoreonline.com/cgi-...45105101402.c1

 

I saw one of those last fall at one of the paint shops
At first it sacred me, then intrigued me
Have you used one Certaguy?

 

if you are a contractor the tool may be worth it. Or maybe you could rent it. But to shell out close to $100.00 before you even start seems to much. The leg extenders that go on the bottom of 1 leg work good and are less expensive or you could build up the step next to the high one and screw a piece of plywood over both steps[make the whole thing 1 piece maybe even go to 3 steps total[ build up 2 steps if you have the wood but don't go out and buy it unless the leggs of the ladder are not completely and totally safely on the plywood. Be sure to protect the walls at the top of the ladder with some nice mitts. If you make the wood the whole length of the step say 30" I can't see how it could fail. maybe screw a small block of wood to the back of the thing so the ladder can't move.

 

I have ladder jacks ($90) mine are solid steel adjustable (H.D. has aluminum ones). They make a perch that is attached to the rungs of the extention ladder making 2 extention ladders and a plank into scaffolding. I agree with PWG in that I would use the extention ladder on the ground and put a plank between the stairs or landing and the ladder jack. If you use ladder leg extenders make sure to tie the ladder to the landing railing and the other direction so it doesn't start going either direction if something goes wrong. You can get aluminum planks up to 24' long (rent?).

 

jeffk You said "I have ladder jacks ($90) mine are solid steel adjustable (H.D. has aluminum ones)". Can you tell me where to get the ladder jacks that you have? I took HD to mean Home Depot and they don't have any in their stores?

 

Here in northern Ca. at the Home Depot they sell aluminum ladder jacks for $90 the set (2). I bought mine about 30 years ago at Sears I believe. You can also try the local Paint dealers as they usually sell ladder jacks.

 

ladder jacks are available from building supply houses. where they sell siding, places like that. Keep in mind that although these are very handy things to have you are still walking on a plank. If you don't buy or rent the plank you will be using a 2 by 12 even more dangerous.aluminum Planks cost hundreds of dollars.They may rent cheap but you still have to transport them.Make sure if you go with the jacks you get 1 that can mount on the front or back, I don't know if they all do.



Having used ladder jacks and the base I described I feel the base + a smaller ladder is safer[just my opinion] than walkig the plank. Keep in mind you will be carrying stuff with you. I would also make the base long enough to span enough stairs to allow for a step ladder to open on it allowing access to the ceiling near the top of the stairs. The platform I would make would be all 1 piece with everything screwed together. I use screws so that the bottom pieces can be removed [or added on to] to adjust for different stair tread measurments and different rug thicknesses





Your problem will be the ladder. even at it's shortest length it will be like 16', so you will need to leave it at the bottom of the stairs and use a long plank the length of the staircase, and when you get near the top of the stairs you may need to put something on the plank to reach the ceiling=danger will robinson!!!!!


The decision is yours

 

best tool in the van

 

Thanks, good to know

 

I am looking at the picture of the Ladder Mate and one weak point I believe is that it has a fixed height of one step which is great for an extension ladder but not useable for a step ladder with a leg spread of 43 inches in which case you need to raise the third step up to the first step (which means you need a device to raise the height two steps in that case).
I want to say thanks to all for you help and great information and I must make of my mind as what will work for me, now that I know what is available. The cheapest price I found for the Ladder Mate is $75.00 at MAB Paints and I will need two of them.