Roof ladder

[TNDU]

I am interested in buying a ladder that can reach my roof, which is 5.2m to the gutter, so really I think I need a ladder that is 7m when extended fully.

I went to see a ladder on sale on gumtree, it looks like the one in this is a photo. Each section is 3.5m

Anyone used this sort of ladder before, or have knowledge of it? How long can it be safely extended?

It is aluminium, so very light. It relies on the two hooks to fully support your weight and a thin slot on both sides so you can slot the two parts together, but it doesn't look to be a secure hold when the guy was demonstrating how the two parts connect to one another.

Is it a safe ladder to get to the roof? Is it secure when slotted together and are those two bottom hooks good enough to hold your weight?

 

[Wayners]

Be fine with a ladder stay.
2 times 3.5m will get you to 6m at the top. Your feet will be at just over 4m I guess

 

[TNDU]

Be fine with a ladder stay.
2 times 3.5m will get you to 6m at the top. Your feet will be at just over 4m I guess

thanks!

what is the minimum length ladder do you think i need? the length of the ladder when fully extended? do i need 7m?

 

[Wayners]

3.5m double has an extended height of 6m. Working height of 6.6m having just fact checked myself online.

So buy ladder and a ladder stay

 

[cdbe]

I have the exact same ladder. I've had it over 30 years, my mate (who acquired it as part of a lorry load of scaffolding in his "self designed" redundancy package from the firm he worked for) said it was a scaffolders ladder.

The way they connect looks like it shouldn't work but it does and that looks in far better nick than mine.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Each section is 3.5m

2x 3.5m does not equal a 7m ladder, when used together - because of the overlap in the middle, you will lose around 1m. Some more height is lost, by needing to lean the ladder. It should be at an angle, against the wall, of 1:7. Every seven feet it goes up, needs to be out from the wall by 1 foot approx..

If you are planning to work on gutters, or above, in fact on anything close to the top of the ladder, a ladder stand-off bracket, is almost essential.

 

[TNDU]

2x 3.5m does not equal a 7m ladder, when used together - because of the overlap in the middle, you will lose around 1m. Some more height is lost, by needing to lean the ladder. It should be at an angle, against the wall, of 1:7. Every seven feet it goes up, needs to be out from the wall by 1 foot approx..

If you are planning to work on gutters, or above, in fact on anything close to the top of the ladder, a ladder stand-off bracket, is almost essential.

yeah, that is why i think i need one that is 7m when extended as by the time it has to stand on an angle, to reach my roof, which is 5.2 m high, and I obviously can't stand anywhere near the top rung, I am thinking I need one that is 7m long in height when extended?

can i get away with anything less than this? and yes, looks like a ladder stand off is important.

 

[Wayners]

You can hire a very long triple ladder for under £30 for the week if you haven't considered that. Try it out and see how you get on. I sold my triple ladder when I closed business as storing it is a right pain

 

[TNDU]

You can hire a very long triple ladder for under £30 for the week if you haven't considered that. Try it out and see how you get on. I sold my triple ladder when I closed business as storing it is a right pain

good idea. will look into it. i was thinking it may be useful to have the ladder for future use but guess you are right and it may be better to hire one.

 

[Wayners]

I hung ladder from garage roof or left on garage floor.
Left on van roof locked up for weeks when I was using in the summer.
Just got in the way most of the time and walking over it was damaging it.
Leaving outside isn't a good idea either.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

You can hire a very long triple ladder for under £30 for the week if you haven't considered that. Try it out and see how you get on. I sold my triple ladder when I closed business as storing it is a right pain

If you have the means to store, then hiring is inconvenient, you have to fetch it, and if often used, can be expensive compared to just buying second-hand. I had a large, very heavy alloy double for decades - rather too heavy to even manage alone. I decided to offer it, for a similar reach double or triple, as a straight swap, and eventually managed to swap it for a longer one than mine, but much lighter. I keep a range of alloy ladders, to hand, of various lengths, hung out of sight, on the outside of my garage wall. They survive well outdoors.

 

[Wayners]

Sometimes I regret selling my triple ladder. Was like stairs to climb and no bounce but I just couldn't store it.
I've spent the last 2 years selling kit and only now can I walk up the centre of my garage.
I still own a light double ladder and a telescopic 3.6m ladder.

 

[johnny2007]

"self designed" redundancy package

 

[TNDU]

I have the exact same ladder. I've had it over 30 years, my mate (who acquired it as part of a lorry load of scaffolding in his "self designed" redundancy package from the firm he worked for) said it was a scaffolders ladder.

The way they connect looks like it shouldn't work but it does and that looks in far better nick than mine.

when the guy slid the upper section onto the lower section, they looked to be held together by a thin lip on either side of the ladder and it didn't look very safe as i would feel more comfortable if the two sections were attached to each other and you just slide it along rather than the two sections being completely separate, and you rely on a small lip area to hold them together.

and those two hooks at the bottom of the top section that sit on the bottom section look to be holding all the weight of the climber, they could break and you would be in trouble.

but it is good to hear that you have the exact one and it works fine.

 

[TNDU]

If you have the means to store, then hiring is inconvenient, you have to fetch it, and if often used, can be expensive compared to just buying second-hand. I had a large, very heavy alloy double for decades - rather too heavy to even manage alone. I decided to offer it, for a similar reach double or triple, as a straight swap, and eventually managed to swap it for a longer one than mine, but much lighter. I keep a range of alloy ladders, to hand, of various lengths, hung out of sight, on the outside of my garage wall. They survive well outdoors.

i just looked at hiring in my area and there aren't any, only nationwide ones, which contracts them out and i am not sure i want to use a company like that. i would prefer a local store.

but yeah, even a new one, you will get the money back in about 3 to 4 use so it makes sense to get one and you could always sell on after 3 or 4 use and even end up in profit