What size ladders to most of you carry? When I was estimating roofing jobs, I carried a heavy duty 28' and a lightweight 20' that was easy to pull off the truck. What sizes are common for roof cleaning? Will be cleaning a lot of 2500-3000 sq ft. two story homes.
BlueRidge said
Feb 28, 2016
Bryan, From smallest to largest...
This three sectional is a life saver for porch roofs and to get to the roof above the porch.
20', 28' & 36' We have some tall homes here and have never needed a 40 (than God!)
I have two of these since we seldom have more than two ladders in use. Since they came as a three part set I got the base units only for the other ladders. The levelers aren't cheap but in all my years I find them to be the most stable and solid construction.
Brett
DirtyRoofcom said
Feb 28, 2016
went through this last year i carry a 24' and a 32' both fiberglass with standoffs. might add a small 12' or 16' this year for small homes. havent cleaned a roof yet that the 32' didnt reach
Fred W said
Feb 28, 2016
We carry a 32' with stabilizer and have a 40' at the shop. We also carry an 8' A frame and have a 12' at the shop.
Bryan P said
Feb 28, 2016
What is the A frame used for mostly? Hadn't thought about needing one of those.
Liberty SoftWash said
Feb 28, 2016
I carry a 16 and 32.
Art O said
Feb 28, 2016
20' and a 24 but sometimes a 32' then there's the 36'
Maverick Contracting said
Feb 28, 2016
Bryan
Tripod A-frames are excellent for outdoor use esp needing to go over bushes. Standard 4 legged A frames are not good on uneven terrain or having to go into the bush.
Some homes have so much landscaping that you can't get an extension close enough.
HTH
John Aloisio said
Feb 28, 2016
My trucks have a 32' and a 10' step ladder. That's it. We have never needEd more. Most of the time we never even break out the 32', because we use the step ladder.
waxman18324 said
Feb 28, 2016
Over the years I've accumulated (buy, trade, gifts and found) many ladders including 40'. My residential truck carries 16, 24 and a 32. The last ladder I bought for $100 was a 40'. Now I have two. We use the 40's about 20 times a year. All ladder sizes have their own ladder standoffs/stabilizers, which we paint safety yellow.
Hank
waxman18324 said
Feb 28, 2016
One other thing about ladders. Never get rid of them if they are damaged. If you're manufacturing something for your truck they come in handy. They are great for holding 5 gallon carboys in place or making platforms.
Hank
Andy Hinson said
Feb 28, 2016
16' & 28
Bryan P said
Feb 28, 2016
Andy Hinson wrote:
16' & 28
Sounds like I'm on the right track. I loved the 28 when I was roofing. It was tall enough to get most anywhere, but more manageable than a 32 for one person.
Maverick Contracting said
Feb 28, 2016
Honestly it depends on the size or type of the majority of homes you work on. By that I mean if a majority of homes are ranches you don't need much more than a 16,24 etc. Some towns near me are 90% colonial or Tudor style so would need a 32, others all ranches 16, etc. Figure out your market needs but it's always good to have a wide array available even if it's knowing a buddy that has that 40 you can borrow for that once a year.
16,24 are my most used and kept on truck most of the time. have 3 of each then of oddities like 20,28,32,40 that are 1 each at shop for when needed. But my Tripods are the most useful. If a house has a lot of landscaping in front that makes getting an extension up, an 8ft trip allows me to get up high to shoot from gutter line
Agree the 28 is a good comprise
-- Edited by Maverick Contracting on Sunday 28th of February 2016 07:52:15 PM
Bryan P said
Feb 28, 2016
Maverick Contracting wrote:
...But my Tripods are the most useful. If a house has a lot of landscaping in front that makes getting an extension up, an 8ft trip allows me to get up high to shoot from gutter line
I'll check out the tripods. I've never used one but it sound like a good idea.
Maverick Contracting said
Feb 28, 2016
Don't get a "landscapers" tripod,although you can I prefer fiberglass types
-- Edited by Maverick Contracting on Sunday 28th of February 2016 07:56:01 PM
BlueRidge said
Feb 29, 2016
waxman18324 wrote:
One other thing about ladders. Never get rid of them if they are damaged. If you're manufacturing something for your truck they come in handy. They are great for holding 5 gallon carboys in place or making platforms.
Hank
So true Hank. If we have a damaged section I keep the good one and strip off all the parts. I carry two lengths of different sizes for the occasional roof we need to get to. There are only used with the roof hook.
waxman18324 said
Feb 29, 2016
Brett,
I've only used those once and shortly thereafter I was looking for someone to do my laundry.
Hank
Maverick Contracting said
Feb 29, 2016
Broken ladders can usually be used as chicken ladders as even if railings are damaged most of the weight is on the roof so they are still safe in roof walking application
John Aloisio said
Feb 29, 2016
Just a quick reminder....If you have any broken or damaged ladders in your shop, they must be locked and chained up. If OSHA just decides to pop in, you could get a fine. They do not want an employee to grab one of the decommissioned ones by mistake. I know a roofer that was fine $4500.00 per broken ladder. He had five of them stacked up.
waxman18324 said
Feb 29, 2016
Thanks John.
Hank
Dave O said
Mar 1, 2016
We carry two extension ladders - 12' for single story and 28'. On occasion, we will rent a 32' or 40'. Also we occasionally carry a chicken ladder with ladder hooks when cleaning cedar roofs.
Dave said
Mar 1, 2016
I carry a 16' 24' and 32'. Have a 40 that i have only used 3 times in the last 5 years.
Jeff Thompson said
Mar 2, 2016
Funny. I'm going to sell my 32' today. Bought it when I started and probably only had to use it 5 times. Just lays around. Figured if I only need the 32' for not even 1% of my jobs I can let those go by. Getting to old to lug that thing around, knees getting to old to climb the thing also. I can always rent one if I want the job bad enough.
I carry 16' and a 24'. Gets me through 99% of the jobs that come my way.
Jeff Wible said
Mar 2, 2016
Step ladders---4' and 8'
Extensions----16' 20' and 28'
Jeff
Bryan P said
Apr 15, 2016
I decided to start with a 16' Type II (225 lb), and a 28' Type I (250 lb). Gonna look into those tripod step ladders too. That seems like a great idea.
Michael Wedge said
Apr 19, 2016
We use the 28' from lowes with the built in leg extensions on both sides And the 22' multi adjustable A frame or extension ladder. I think in the last 3 years I may have broke out the 32' 5 times. I just realized they have a 26' multi-position on line. Might grab one of those turns into a 13' A frame
Werner 28-ft Aluminum 225-lb Type II Extension Ladder
Werner 22-ft Aluminum 300-lb Telescoping Type IA Multi-Position Ladder
Werner 26-ft Aluminum 300-lb Telescoping Type IA Multi-Position Ladder
What size ladders to most of you carry? When I was estimating roofing jobs, I carried a heavy duty 28' and a lightweight 20' that was easy to pull off the truck. What sizes are common for roof cleaning? Will be cleaning a lot of 2500-3000 sq ft. two story homes.
Bryan, From smallest to largest...
This three sectional is a life saver for porch roofs and to get to the roof above the porch.
20', 28' & 36' We have some tall homes here and have never needed a 40 (than God!)
I have two of these since we seldom have more than two ladders in use. Since they came as a three part set I got the base units only for the other ladders. The levelers aren't cheap but in all my years I find them to be the most stable and solid construction.
Brett
Tripod A-frames are excellent for outdoor use esp needing to go over bushes. Standard 4 legged A frames are not good on uneven terrain or having to go into the bush.
Some homes have so much landscaping that you can't get an extension close enough.
HTH
My trucks have a 32' and a 10' step ladder. That's it. We have never needEd more. Most of the time we never even break out the 32', because we use the step ladder.
Over the years I've accumulated (buy, trade, gifts and found) many ladders including 40'. My residential truck carries 16, 24 and a 32. The last ladder I bought for $100 was a 40'. Now I have two. We use the 40's about 20 times a year. All ladder sizes have their own ladder standoffs/stabilizers, which we paint safety yellow.
Hank
Hank
Sounds like I'm on the right track. I loved the 28 when I was roofing. It was tall enough to get most anywhere, but more manageable than a 32 for one person.
Honestly it depends on the size or type of the majority of homes you work on.
By that I mean if a majority of homes are ranches you don't need much more than a 16,24 etc.
Some towns near me are 90% colonial or Tudor style so would need a 32, others all ranches 16, etc.
Figure out your market needs but it's always good to have a wide array available even if it's knowing a buddy that has that 40 you can borrow for that once a year.
16,24 are my most used and kept on truck most of the time.
have 3 of each then of oddities like 20,28,32,40 that are 1 each at shop for when needed. But my Tripods are the most useful. If a house has a lot of landscaping in front that makes getting an extension up, an 8ft trip allows me to get up high to shoot from gutter line
Agree the 28 is a good comprise
-- Edited by Maverick Contracting on Sunday 28th of February 2016 07:52:15 PM
I'll check out the tripods. I've never used one but it sound like a good idea.
Don't get a "landscapers" tripod,although you can I prefer fiberglass types
http://m.homedepot.com/p/Werner-12-ft-Fiberglass-Tripod-Step-Ladder-with-300-lb-Load-Capacity-Type-IA-Duty-Rating-FTP6212/203134298
-- Edited by Maverick Contracting on Sunday 28th of February 2016 07:56:01 PM
So true Hank. If we have a damaged section I keep the good one and strip off all the parts. I carry two lengths of different sizes for the occasional roof we need to get to. There are only used with the roof hook.
I've only used those once and shortly thereafter I was looking for someone to do my laundry.
Hank
Just a quick reminder....If you have any broken or damaged ladders in your shop, they must be locked and chained up. If OSHA just decides to pop in, you could get a fine. They do not want an employee to grab one of the decommissioned ones by mistake. I know a roofer that was fine $4500.00 per broken ladder. He had five of them stacked up.
Hank
I carry 16' and a 24'. Gets me through 99% of the jobs that come my way.
Extensions----16' 20' and 28'
Jeff
We use the 28' from lowes with the built in leg extensions on both sides And the 22' multi adjustable A frame or extension ladder. I think in the last 3 years I may have broke out the 32' 5 times. I just realized they have a 26' multi-position on line. Might grab one of those turns into a 13' A frame
Werner 28-ft Aluminum 225-lb Type II Extension Ladder
Werner 22-ft Aluminum 300-lb Telescoping Type IA Multi-Position Ladder
Werner 26-ft Aluminum 300-lb Telescoping Type IA Multi-Position Ladder