Title is pretty much everything!
I have these high up windows that I’d like to clean and maybe in the future install curtains on. I guestimate the wall being 20ft (6m) tall.
For other rooms in the house I typically use an A-Frame, but it’s impossible to find an A-Frame to reach that high where I am.
I plan on draping a towel over the top of the ladder to prevent scratches and scuffs on the wall, as well as getting a rubber mat or something if the floor seems slippery. I am just not sure if drywall would support a ladder? Especially near the frame of the windows. Maybe there’s something else I’m not considering as well?
It’s not a dumb question. Ladders are one of the most dangerous things people keep in their house, and making sure you’re using one correctly is important. As to your situation, I think it would be fine to use an extension ladder. My only experience with extension ladder is using 28’-32’ ladders to get into tree for trimming. I am not an expert on indoor use.
Yeah, I’d consider myself comfortable with ladders and with heights. I’ve climbed higher things than this. But you’re right, they can be dangerous. I know how to respect them outside the house, but inside the house just feels more sketchy because I have to be aware of myself and any potential damage to the house. Don’t want to make the wife mad 😅.
Get a stabilizer bar for your extension ladder. It makes them much more stable and all the ones I’ve seen had padded feet on the ends which will also keep you from scratching up the wall.
I agree with everything said here and just want to ask, can you possibly have someone hold the bottom for you? At least that way you’ll have an extra layer of safety.
If you lean a ladder against a wall, only a small part of your weight pushes against the wall horizontally, most weight is still directed towards the ground. You can roughly estimate how much of your weight will push against the wall:
with a vertical ladder it would be 0.
with a ladder put up in a 45 degree angle it would be ~50% (actually less).
Your angle will be somewhere in between.My guess is any wall can handle this, otherwise it would fall if you lean on it. But no one can tell you for sure without inspecting it.
Ah interesting point about the weight distribution. I agree then; I should be fine!
Just wanted to make sure I wasn’t missing anything I should be considering.
Make sure to follow the 4-to-1 rule - for every 4’ of climb, the base should be 1’ from the wall.
You should be fine. Ideally, you’d tie the ladder off to something, or have the top extend 3’ above the surface it’s against (like if you’re using it to get to a roof). Obviously neither of those really apply here. I’m an electrician and we have to do stuff like this pretty often.
As for the strength of the wall around the windows, those should be framed in, meaning there are extra 2x4s around them. Try to extend the ladder higher than you need to be so you’re not on the very top of it and you’ll be alright
Right, this is the correct answer. Even with a very tall ladder, the force is relatively small. If the ladder is well anchored, you can demonstrate this by standing at the top, holding on tightly, and pushing on the wall to see how hard you have to push to move the top of the ladder away from the wall a little.
Also worth mentioning that they sell covers/pads for the top of the ladders to prevent denting the drywall, but you can also make them from a piece of foam pool noodle.
you can demonstrate this by standing at the top, holding on tightly, and pushing on the wall to see how hard you have to push to move the top of the ladder away from the wall a little.
Yeah, I’m gonna go ahead and just not do that.
Heh, fair enough, though if that’s enough to make you feel backwards, you don’t have enough angle on your ladder.
I have a major in structural engineering, and I’m commenting to say that you want to be very careful with reasoning that something will total less force because it caps out at your body weight.
Just to give an example, if you have a wire strung between two poles, and you hang your 100 lb self from the middle of that wire, the tension against the poles can easily be thousands of pounds.
It’s not going to play out that way with the ladder, unless the ladder is flexing. But if you have a ladder that bends, and it’s got a 10 degree bend in it, while the ladder is straightening it can be exerting far more force than your weight on the two ends.
Considering the static force diagram, a 100 lb downward force is going to be balanced by a set of opposing forces that sum to an upward 100 lb force.
Given that there are horizontal forces involved too, these individual force components can easily be greater than their sum.
Not saying for sure this ladder situation is one of those situations, but if you’re consistently applying a heuristic that a system of forces will be limited to the force input of an external stressor, you can be very rudely surprised by the actual system when it generates forces in the tons.
Slip socks over the end against the wall to protect the surface. Angle the ladder so the steps are parallel with the floor and go for it! Have someone hold the base of the ladder for additional security.
To add to what others are saying, make sure the base is completely secured. Do not place the base on a rug, mat or anything that could increase the possibility of slipping. Additionally someone wearing shoes with a very good grip should be supporting you while on the ladder, preferably your weight or more.
Sounds like you have it covered friend. I use two washcloths and tape them on the end of the ladder where it will come in contact with the wall to prevent scuffs. Set up is exactly like the exterior.
Definitely make sure that the ladder has non-stick feet or grab some non-slip material or a doormat with a non slip surface. Ensure to test it before going too high. Always best to have a spotter.I just did this while painting my foyer, around the same height. You’ll be fine with a towel over the end of the ladder.
An extension ladder shouldn’t damage the wall unless you lose control of it or bang it. Wrapping the end with a cloth or buying rubber caps can help. When you move from side to side, try to lift the top away from the wall so you don’t scratch it; this is the most common way you could damage the wall.
They make stabilizers that often come with caps, but they will push you away from the wall; if you have short arms, this might be a concern. They also will require more space from the wall for the base to rest so you aren’t vertical.
Always try to have a buddy at the bottom of the ladder to make sure the base doesn’t slide out from under you, especially if you have anything other than carpet.
Optimally, you will want to try to have your ladder top rest on the windowsill or lower trim that frames the window, without it touching the glass.
Painters often use extension ladders to paint the upper part of tall walls.
Tape a towel over the end of each side rail to prevent them damaging the drywall.
We have pool noodles split in half and zip tied to the part or the later that touches.
Near the frame of the windows it should be strongest unless the corners were done wrong. They should have metal things there to support the corner under the texture, and it should have double 2x4s all around it.
Also, if possible, tie off the bottom so it can’t slip out.
I can’t declare this safe or unsafe, but really thick layers of “towel” between the upper end and the wall will help distribute the force on the wall making it less likely to punch through the drywall.
You could put a big piece of plywood there, but there’s no way to hold it in place.
I’d add to the other good comments to say be careful to not damage your walls when leaning it against them. I used one and it left little dents in the wall.
I would wrap the top posts of the ladder in towels and tape them on. I’ve done this to protect gutters.
