How to Safely Set Up Your Extension Ladder

The holidays are right around the corner, which means it’s almost time to start hanging lights from your roof. If you plan to do this by yourself, then you should be familiar with how to set up your extension ladder safely to avoid any serious injuries. In this post, we will explain exactly how to set up your extension ladder so that you can have a safe and happy holiday. 

The Dangers Setting Up Your Extension Ladder Incorrectly

Unsurprisingly, ladder accidents are among the more common injuries for people at their home. Extension ladders also offer an entirely new set of dangers than regular ladders such as increased instability and greater heights. 

The increased instability of extension ladders is due to them relying on only two points of contact rather than the four points of contact on a traditional ladder. This causes extension ladders to be much less forgiving with uneven terrain as slight inconsistencies can produce dramatic effects. 

Because extension ladders are typically used to reach higher elevations, this poses an increased risk of sustaining serious damage in the event of a fall. Extension ladders can reach heights surpassing twenty feet so it is important to set them up correctly. 

How to Safely Set Up Your Extension Ladder 

1. The first thing that you should do before you set up your extension ladder is thoroughly inspect it for damage. 

2. Once you have confirmed that your ladder is free from any damage, you will want to set the angle of the ladder by leaning it against the wall, unextended, where you plan to use it. The optimal pitch for an extension ladder is around 75 degrees.

3. Once the ladder is properly positioned, now you can extend the fly section of the ladder to your desired length. 
   1. Pro tip: If you are planning to use your ladder to get on top of your roof, you will want to extend the ladder to three feet beyond the surface where you will get off. 

4. Once your ladder is at the desired length, lock it in place with rung locks for security.

5. Your ladder is now ready to be used! Remember to always have three points of contact on the ladder when you are climbing it (two feet and one hand or one foot and two hands) for added precaution. Also make sure that you never exceed the weight capacity on your extension ladder which can be anywhere from 200 to 450 pounds. 

If You Don’t Want to Set Up Your Extension Ladder, Call CK Roofing Instead

If you find that going that high on your extension ladder just isn’t worth it, call the professionals at CK Roofing to do it for you. Our team of experienced roofers can get onto your roof with no issues and fix any problem you may have. Located in and serving the Houston area, no problem is too big for us. Give us a call or fill out our online form for all of your roofing needs.