Power Washing and Roof Cleaning Forum

Capital Roof Wash · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Two story ladder of choice

Liberty SoftWash · PWS Vender

That's what's we use, I think it's a 250 lbs limit.

waxman18324 · Founding Member Rest in Peace

Ray,

My primary truck has a old aluminum 40' (that is older than I am), a Werner aluminum 32' and a Werner aluminum 20' at all times. This works for us. Each one is equipped with a werner stand off(stablizer). Our ladder racks are old school metal square and round tubing.

Hank

SprayWash · Approved Exterior Cleaner

go with the 32, it will get you up to most places!

Doug Rucker · Vender

I only use fiberglass 32 Louisville. Have had two Werner 32 aluminum, they both lasted a year.

Eric Schnaible · Approved Exterior Cleaner

I've grown to despise fiberglass.

SprayWash · Approved Exterior Cleaner

It takes a MAN to lug around a 32 foot fiberglass ladder!

Brian C Jackson · Approved Exterior Cleaner

32 ft. Ladder is our every day ladder. The only roof that needs a 40 ia a 2 story with a walk out cellar.

Art O · Approved Exterior Cleaner

I use my 20 most of the time to get to my 24 and 32

John Aloisio · Approved Exterior Cleaner

We use Werner fiberglass 32' ladders Pretty much everyday. I buy the type 1a which carry a live load of 300lbs. I have a 40' one also, but only really use it down the shore for condos and houses that are on pillions or have walkout basements. We also have a little giant 24' aluminum heavy duty, the 1aa, rated to 375 lbs. we also use Werner 8' and 10' step ladders.

I buy the heavy duty ones, because most of my guys, me included, look like the front line for defense. And then one guy looks like the ball boy. Also, because the more a ladder is rated for, the safer it is when standing on them for long periods of time. It is from my roofing days and has something to with point loading or something.

Doug Rucker · Vender

SprayWash wrote:
It takes a MAN to lug around a 32 foot fiberglass ladder!

Much safer and last longer though....

Steve Salley · Approved Exterior Cleaner

We have a 32' but since I put a 28' on the truck, we did not use the 32 but once or twice last season. The 28 gets us to the gutter line and allows us to set the ladder stabilizer on the roof, so we feel it is adequate most of the time.

I give you guys kudos for wrestling with fiberglass. My 30 plus years of lugging flooring boxes and carpet rolls has left me a bit worn out for that task...

Chesapeake · Approved Exterior Cleaner

My 32' may get used once a year. My 3 ladders of choice are an 8' step, 24' ext, and a 28' ext.

Capital Roof Wash · Approved Exterior Cleaner

All you guys kick AZZ and I can't tell you how much I appriciate all the feedback!!! I'm going to sift thru the pros and cons of the alluminum and fiberglass 32' ladders.

Just for kicks and giggles, my dad has been a contractor in Newport, Rhode Island for over 50 years and used wooden ladders, wood scaffolding planks and raising 40' double 2x4 pump jack poles when I was teenager. Talk about a two man job movinging a wooden ladder brings back memories of my summer vacations when I was in school! Those things wighed a TON!!! Now he has about a mile of all aluminum ladders, scoffolding and pump jack posts.

He suggested the 32' aluminum but I just wanted to see what the guys who are not subscribed to AAPR have on their ladder racks! I'm going to go with the 69 year old guys suggestion. The guy is an old New England salty dog and will never retire!

Side note: I hated those old pump jacks when they would get stuck. You kick the bottom peg and you would drop a few feet until it cought the wood pump jack post. Two stories up, not a fun ride!!!!

Ed Thompson · Approved Exterior Cleaner

SprayWash wrote:
It takes a MAN to lug around a 32 foot fiberglass ladder!

Last year a truck came back with a contorted 32'. Kyle said it happened when Marcus started to climb, as if Marcus was too heavy and the rungs simply gave out. I showed Kyle that I know it was dropped. Kyle doesn't work here anymore.

BlueRidge · Approved Exterior Cleaner

We have a 36' ladder for those two story with a basement. I don't like 40' ladders so this works well for everything tall. The other ladders we carry are a 20', 24' and a three section compact ladder that has been used way more than I ever expected. The compact works great for porch roofs and also for getting to the roof above the porch. I also find this works great for single story ranch. All the ladders are aluminum because that is what I owned when I started and I do not like fiberglass ladders! The standoff I like is LadderMax, much more stable and much better to work from than Warner stabilizer. It can also be placed on any rung on the ladder if you want some of the ladder above the roof.