Power Washing and Roof Cleaning Forum

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

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.

I carry a 16 and 32.

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

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

16' & 28

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

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

Brett,

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. 

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.

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.

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.