Ladder stand off placement - Gutter clearing
#1
11-08-11, 07:38 AM
Ladder stand off placement - Gutter clearing
Hi,
Please can someone advise me of the best place to locate my ladder stand off so I can clean my gutters? I've not used one before and am not sure where best to place it; you'll see the problem on the pic below. There is no room above my top windows to locate the stand off. To locate it below the window doesn’t seem right to me, or safe. Please can someone enlighten me?
Thanks
Ash
Close up:
Please can someone advise me of the best place to locate my ladder stand off so I can clean my gutters? I've not used one before and am not sure where best to place it; you'll see the problem on the pic below. There is no room above my top windows to locate the stand off. To locate it below the window doesn’t seem right to me, or safe. Please can someone enlighten me?
Thanks
Ash
Close up:
#2
11-08-11, 09:45 AM
I'd use a stick or something to give me extra reach and use the ladder on each side of the windows. Worse case scenario, I'd set the ladder on the gutter - be sure to set it at a point where the gutter nail is attached, that will hopefully prevent damage to the gutter.
#3
11-08-11, 10:11 AM
Member
I have the same problem on the back of my house. I lean the ladder against the gutter and I'm careful not to put a lot of weight on it. I also put small C clamps on the gutter on both sides of the ladder - I once had an embarrassing situation where a ladder I had leaning against a gutter fell over while I was on the roof.
I also made a gutter hoe. I cut a piece of plywood shaped to the inside contour of my gutter and attached it to a handle with a swivel (an old drywall sander pole). It gives me about 4'-5' reach on either side of the ladder.
I also made a gutter hoe. I cut a piece of plywood shaped to the inside contour of my gutter and attached it to a handle with a swivel (an old drywall sander pole). It gives me about 4'-5' reach on either side of the ladder.
#4
11-08-11, 10:34 AM
Member
Stand Off
Hopefully, your stand-off has padded ends. If so, place the stand-off on the roof.
Last edited by Wirepuller38; 11-08-11 at 10:35 AM. Reason: Correction
#5
11-08-11, 12:13 PM
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I'm with MarkSr, but I'd be more inclined to lean towards (forgive the pun) his second option of placing the ladder on the gutter itself in a firm spot where the nails attach.
You can get up close and personal with all the stuff that's in there, and won't have the inclination to lean off your ladder to get something just out of your reach.
Be careful, ladders (and just about everything else) are slippery at this time of year. Make sure your ladder is footed securely. I usually get on the first rung and jump up and down a bit to help it dig in if you're on grass. Grass grows back. Vertebrae don't.
You are 100% correct that placing it underneath the window and climbing up beyond your obvious ladder limitations would be incredibly dangerous.
You can get up close and personal with all the stuff that's in there, and won't have the inclination to lean off your ladder to get something just out of your reach.
Be careful, ladders (and just about everything else) are slippery at this time of year. Make sure your ladder is footed securely. I usually get on the first rung and jump up and down a bit to help it dig in if you're on grass. Grass grows back. Vertebrae don't.
You are 100% correct that placing it underneath the window and climbing up beyond your obvious ladder limitations would be incredibly dangerous.
#6
11-08-11, 03:53 PM
I do as Ken says, extend the ladder to where the pads touch the roof. It keeps the ladder from slipping as it would if just placed against the gutter only. Over 5' in the air, you betcha I ain't gonna be sliding anywhere.
#7
11-09-11, 05:22 PM
Member
And remember to plant the legs an adequate distance away from the building. "Toes touching base, fingertips touching rung at shoulder-level with an out-stretched arm" is the rule. I often see people either setting the base too close or too far away.
Looks like it's been a while since anyone has been up there to clean things out--lots of healthy green crops of something!
Looks like it's been a while since anyone has been up there to clean things out--lots of healthy green crops of something!
#8
11-10-11, 04:33 AM
Had my guys clean one about 18' high, yesterday. Same scenario. Lifted the first "tree" and all the soil, leaves, other plant growth pulled up like a mat. He had 20' cleaned with only one ladder move. But this was a foreclosure that had been sitting for a while.
#9
11-10-11, 05:45 AM
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Chandler, while mine wasn't as easy as your guys job it was close.
I didn't get to my gutters until a little while ago and some of the leaves had frozen together with some residual water left in the gutter. Move one little piece and the rest came out like a big "leaf stick".
Oh, and the general rule for ladder placement here in Canada (I'm sure the same elsewhere) is one foot out from wall for every four feet up the wall you're going. Going twenty feet up? Ladder base should be five feet out from the wall.
I didn't get to my gutters until a little while ago and some of the leaves had frozen together with some residual water left in the gutter. Move one little piece and the rest came out like a big "leaf stick".
Oh, and the general rule for ladder placement here in Canada (I'm sure the same elsewhere) is one foot out from wall for every four feet up the wall you're going. Going twenty feet up? Ladder base should be five feet out from the wall.
#10
11-10-11, 09:03 AM
Member
Oh, and the general rule for ladder placement here in Canada (I'm sure the same elsewhere) is one foot out from wall for every four feet up the wall you're going. Going twenty feet up? Ladder base should be five feet out from the wall.
I think that's the same rule of thumb recommended by ladder manufacturer's.
One question about ladder standoffs. I have one (longhorns???) and no way will the arms contact a roof that has anything but the steepest pitch. I have a 4:12 roof and the 18" arms on the stabilizer don't come close. Am I using them wrong or do I have the wrong kind?
I think that's the same rule of thumb recommended by ladder manufacturer's.
One question about ladder standoffs. I have one (longhorns???) and no way will the arms contact a roof that has anything but the steepest pitch. I have a 4:12 roof and the 18" arms on the stabilizer don't come close. Am I using them wrong or do I have the wrong kind?
#11
11-10-11, 09:09 AM
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Yeah, I've got the vtype ones:
I'd never heard of the 'longhorn' ones:
I assume that's what these are.
Mine would never work on a steep roof like that.
I'd never heard of the 'longhorn' ones:
I assume that's what these are.
Mine would never work on a steep roof like that.
#12
11-10-11, 11:44 AM
Member
Standoff
One question about ladder standoffs. I have one (longhorns???) and no way will the arms contact a roof that has anything but the steepest pitch. I have a 4:12 roof and the 18" arms on the stabilizer don't come close. Am I using them wrong or do I have the wrong kind?
#13
11-11-11, 10:56 PM
I think a small garden has taken hold up there! I have been putting it off for a while (not too keen about being at the top of a ladder) but it needs to be done before winter really sets in. There is lots of trees near my house and every year seeds from them land in the gutter and start taking root. I will have the stand-off tomorrow and using Wayne's idea of a gutter hoe should have it sorted in no time.
#14
11-11-11, 11:00 PM
Originally Posted by BridgeMan45
Looks like it's been a while since anyone has been up there to clean things out--lots of healthy green crops of something!
I think a small garden has taken hold up there! I have been putting it off for a while (not too keen about being at the top of a ladder) but it needs to be done before winter really sets in. There is lots of trees near my house and every year seeds from them land in the gutter and start taking root. I will have the stand-off tomorrow and using Wayne's idea of a gutter hoe should have it sorted in no time.
