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Ladder standoffs for roofs

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mattmia2
mattmia2 Member Posts: 13,466
in THE MAIN WALL

Not heating at all but I need to do some gutter and soffit work and the people here usually know about this stuff.

I am looking for a support to put on top of my extension ladder to support the ladder on the surface of the roof rather than leaning it up against the gutter. One roof is 8/12 and the other is about 2/12. The extension ladder I have is a 24' fiberglass type 1a Werner. I have to store the ladder on some hooks on my garage wall and the space is limited so the support will have to be easy to remove and install, I don't want to spend 10 minutes with u bolts and wing nuts to do a 5 minute job.

What do you use and like?

Comments

  • 109A_5
    109A_5 Member Posts: 2,478

    To do soffit work I would want the ladder against the wall under the soffit ? Anyway they make those ladder adapters that span a window (to do work above a window) if put it at the top of the ladder it may reach the roof without the ladder touching the gutter. Seems that would be very awkward to do soffit work.

    The way I would do it (have done it) is two ladders against the wall (often you can split an extension ladder), two ladder jacks and a Pick (or walk board, ladder planks) between the ladders. Set it up once and have a lot of range of comfortable movement.

    They make protection boots for the end of the ladder where it touches the house wall.

    National - U.S. Gas Boiler 45+ Years Old
    Steam 300 SQ. FT. - EDR 347
    One Pipe System
    mattmia2
  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 26,176

    I use the same type of gadget @109A_5 mentioned. Even has a pain can hook on it. Stands off about a foot. And I have absolutely no idea where I bought it. Sporty's Tool Shop, maybe? It just uses clamps and bolts on the ladder — they go around the sides and a rung, for stability.

    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
    mattmia2
  • SlamDunk
    SlamDunk Member Posts: 1,759
    image.jpeg

    The original Ladder Max is what I use. Very robust.

    mattmia2
  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 18,228

    The one @SlamDunk posted looks like it would go on on very easily.

    mattmia2
  • Larry Weingarten
    Larry Weingarten Member Posts: 3,897

    Or perhaps something like this? https://www.amazon.com/Ladders-Little-Helper-LLH1/dp/B00U830ZNQ

    Yours, Larry

    mattmia2
  • SlamDunk
    SlamDunk Member Posts: 1,759

    I give it three stars out of five for installation. It could be me but I have put it on backwards a couple times. But once on, I feel very secure on the ladder.

    mattmia2
  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 26,176

    This one

    SMOQIO Ladder Stabilizer, Adjustable Ladder Standoff, Ladder Stabilizer for Roof Gutter Cleaning, Ladder Gutter Guard Accessories with White Anti-Slip Silicone Pad to Protect Wall - Amazon.com

    is almost identical to the one I have and am very happy with.

    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
    mattmia2
  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 13,466

    This is part of what i need to access so leaning it on the wall isn't an option.

    image.png

    I suppose I could try to lean it here:

    image.png

    This is where I could lean it on the wall.

    image.png

    I would not do well standing on a plank on ladder jacks at that height.

  • 109A_5
    109A_5 Member Posts: 2,478

    Yeah, I get it. To work where you drew the red line is short scaffold territory, with a fall barrier on the back side or all around. You could put a Pick between two step ladders and tie everything off so nothing can move.

    The problem with supporting the top of a ladder with some kind of extension against that shallow pitched roof like that is it may damage the roof.

    If it were me at my house and the scaffold was not possible, I would use two 2 x 4's to support the top of the ladder (kind of like an asymmetrical 'A' or an upside down 'V' when viewed from the side). The two 2 x 4's would span between the top (or near the top) of the ladder (attach securely) then to where the floor of the porch meets the house. At the house end the 2 x 4's would be at least twice as wide as the ladder for stability. The 2 x 4's would be cross braced so they can't shift or deform their shape. Something may be needed to protect the porch floor and the house wall. The assembly with the ladder could be slid or moved (left or right) to where is needed then tied off again.

    Everything would be tied off to the structure or some other securely fixed point so your ladder assembly can't move.

    I've never had a ladder that was tied off securely move unexpectedly on me and I have been in some sketchy places.

    image.png
    National - U.S. Gas Boiler 45+ Years Old
    Steam 300 SQ. FT. - EDR 347
    One Pipe System
  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 26,176

    That is a sketchy location. What's in the yard in front of it? More or less level? I have a rather nice but exceedingly heavy 16 foot stepladder (one of those contraptions — Werner I think) which would do, but not if the ground wouldn't support it.

    I'm cheap. Well, not cheap, but let's say the budget is limited… even so for that application I would find a place which rented man lifts and take it for a couple of days…

    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England

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