Quick ladder question

[Kevin]

I’m 6’ tall, we have some kitchen lights 14 1/2 feet high.

Will a 12 foot ladder be tall enough? The internet says I can reach 16 feet with a 12foot ladder, is this correct?

I need the A frame style ladder because a couple lights are not close to the wall.

 

[PRichardson87]

That should be perfectly acceptable. Never hurts to have a second person to stabilize however

 

[Kevin]

https://www.staples.com/designers-e...MIu_j-_JurhAMVQkt_AB3S5Q0GEAQYAiABEgL9-fD_BwEYes to the ladder height, but I have one of something like this....beats dragging a ladder out pretty much every time.
We have a bunch of PAR30 bulbs in cans on our ceilings and the suction cup works great.

Thanks for the suggestion. I’ve tried those before and cannot get them to work at all.

 

[Kevin]

That should be perfectly acceptable. Never hurts to have a second person to stabilize however

Thanks! Yes, I would definitely have my wife hold the ladder still

 

[Watertender]

Use a GOOD ladder with the proper weight rating. Don't overreach past the center of your body to either side and don't stand on the top step. Turn the power to the light off and be safe. It's cheaper to do it right rather than end up in the ER for cutting corners and doing it wrong.

 

[Busterswoodshop]

A 12 ft ladder will be just fine to reach 14 ft.
You sure don't want to be standing on the top rung.

Then again. If it is too short , you can always put a 5 gallon bucket under each leg to make it higher.

Just kidding about the buckets.

 

[Ride1949]

 

[woodsy]

Ride1949, that is hilarious, even if it is ridiculous.

 

[Kevin]

What kind of bulbs are they?

They are supposed to be long lasting led's. However a couple of them burnt out after probably 18 months and some other flicker after they get warmed up.

They are the wide overhead lights, like spotlights sort of, I don't know the model number.

I’ll give your suction cup pole another try before buying a ladder. I have an 8’ ladder right now.

And yes, I just looked up Par30. That’s what they are.

 

[blume357]

10ft step ladder should be plenty.... but I guess a 12ft would be better but that is a lot of ladder to set up in a house.

 

[WanderLust]

A few rules of thumb to go by:
1. Safe working height is 4' higher than the top ladder height.
2. Maintain 3 points of contact at all times. Preferably both feet+1 hand, but leaning into it with the upper body does work. Not as good, but it happens.
This means having a ladder tall enough for your upper body to have good contact points.
3. 12' ladders are the max length normally sold as a step-ladder, and they're not cheap. Extension ladders, if used, normally need a 1:4 leaning ratio.
4. Carrying things up/down means your points of contact, and your balance, may be compromised. Had a coworker die from falling off the BOTTOM step (9" from the ground) because she had her hands full. Even if only one hand is used, it limits your ability to grasp the ladder if needed. It's
instinctive to NOT drop whatever we are carrying, which keeps people from grabbing the ladder when their balance changes. Use a rope & basket.
5. Would rolling scaffolding be easier/quicker? It can be rented by the day or the week. Many ladders can be rented as well.
6. Replace all the lights at the same time, whether working or not. That limits your time spent in the future on the same issue.
7. Buy the best lights you can find, so this issue is reduced or removed in the future.

 

[RoninPA]

I have a ladder like this: https://www.littlegiantladders.com/products/velocity-articulating-ladder?variant=40948897382565

Best ladder I have ever had. Now, mine is a bit older but is basically the same, just without the fancy stuff. Can be set up in any variety of configurations and is as steady as a rock.

 

[Watertender]

I have a ladder like this: https://www.littlegiantladders.com/products/velocity-articulating-ladder?variant=40948897382565

Best ladder I have ever had. Now, mine is a bit older but is basically the same, just without the fancy stuff. Can be set up in any variety of configurations and is as steady as a rock.

When I married my current wife she had a ladder like that. I got 2 great things that day! Both are still wonderful and I have no regrets about either one.

 

[Bad Barlow]

When I married my current wife she had a ladder like that. I got 2 great things that day! Both are still wonderful and I have no regrets about either one.

When I married my current wife she had a ladder like that. I got 2 great things that day! Both are still wonderful and I have no regrets about either one.

If they are on a dimmer, make sure they are " dimmer rated"

 

[Fire Chief]

Make sure the replacement LEDs are rated for use in recessed lights.
Heat build up is what causes LEDs to burn out early.

 

[Kevin]

Lots of great points here.

Especially the one about replacing all the bulbs at once to avoid having to do it again in the near future.

 

[Johnnu2]

I'd recommend a 12' ladder and a 6' handyman..........

J.

 

[contender]

I climb ladders a lot in my work. (Like blume,, I have quite a few of them.)

I'm not afraid of heights,, but ladders command a lot of respect.

Use a good one, and make SURE it's very stable & not wobbly at all. And make sure you are comfortable on it. Over-reaching,, (both up or sideways,) can be very dangerous.

Lots of people get hurt on ladders all the time because they fail to be as safe as possible,, or think they can "do that one more thing w/o moving or re-setting the ladder."

Just be careful.

 

[blume357]

I know folks love little giant ladders and I should not make a decision from just one instance but I don't like them even though a fellow sweep uses one all the time and when I help him have to deal with that heavy monster. Any who, the reason I don't like them is I came very close to making the national news because of one.

I was setting a Little Giant up against a 12ft chimney coming out of a flat roof. Seems I did not lock the upper section right. I was trying to get the feet set right on the roof and looking down and the upper section folded back and came down and hit me on the back of the head. I went down and saw stars and had tunnel vision for about 30 seconds or so. The two other guys up on the roof about 50ft or more away had heard the wack and came running but by the time they got there I was starting to see straight again... I do have a very hard head. The point is, if an ambulance had been called it would have been a big deal. The chimney I was putting the ladder up against runs to the fireplace in the Oval Office of the west wing of the White House.

just over 4 years ago I was out of work for a month because of a ladder slipping on a roof.. the reason it did was I violated the number one rule in my business which is "Be Here Now"... my mind was on trying to figure out how to get to all the other houses I had scheduled that day and I did not set the ladder up right safely...

 

[vito]

Before you decide on what ladder to buy, try and handle them in the store. The house I own has some very high ceilings and I thought a 12 foot step ladder would be the best one to buy. But I found that the weight and bulk of this ladder was much, much more than a comparable 10 foot ladder. I'm 80 years old now, and find I can still handle and move the 10 foot ladder from the garage to the house and set it up where I need it, but I doubt that I could handle the much heavier 12 foot version.

I actually have some recessed living room lights (that we hardly ever turn on) that are 17 feet off the ground. Even a 12 foot step ladder would not be tall enough. In the 19 years I have lived in this home I have only had the light bulbs changed once in this high lights, and for that one time I hired a handyman who set up scaffolding to get to the lights.

 

[larry8]

The safest way is to hire the local handyman to change the bulbs.

 

[Kevin]

The safest way is to hire the local handyman to change the bulbs.

I’m having coffee right now looking up at the lights.

This morning that sounds like the best idea.

I’ll let ya’ll know what I’m going to do.

 

[Johnnu2]

You can also use neighborhood kids......... they usually don't break too badly when they fall....

J.

 

[Kevin]

I know folks love little giant ladders and I should not make a decision from just one instance but I don't like them even though a fellow sweep uses one all the time and when I help him have to deal with that heavy monster. Any who, the reason I don't like them is I came very close to making the national news because of one.

I was setting a Little Giant up against a 12ft chimney coming out of a flat roof. Seems I did not lock the upper section right. I was trying to get the feet set right on the roof and looking down and the upper section folded back and came down and hit me on the back of the head. I went down and saw stars and had tunnel vision for about 30 seconds or so. The two other guys up on the roof about 50ft or more away had heard the wack and came running but by the time they got there I was starting to see straight again... I do have a very hard head. The point is, if an ambulance had been called it would have been a big deal. The chimney I was putting the ladder up against runs to the fireplace in the Oval Office of the west wing of the White House.

just over 4 years ago I was out of work for a month because of a ladder slipping on a roof.. the reason it did was I violated the number one rule in my business which is "Be Here Now"... my mind was on trying to figure out how to get to all the other houses I had scheduled that day and I did not set the ladder up right safely...

Blume, it sounds like there’s more to the story? You got hired to sweep the chimney of the White House? How did that come about?

 

[Kevin]

You can also use neighborhood kids......... they usually don't break too badly when they fall....

J.

I think ya’ll are right. I do have some other electrical issues I need done at the house.

We bought a toaster over and it’s too powerful for the circuit and anything stronger than 350°F keeps tripping the circuit.

 

[Johnnu2]

Blume, it sounds like there's more to the story? You got hired to sweep the chimney of the White House? How did that come about?

Blume is probably on their "watch list"; so, they keep him close by to "watch" him...
J

 

[Robb Barnes]

Kevin, you have to lick those lightbulbs first for the suction cup devices to work!

 

[Bob Wright]

My solution was to mention to my pastor that I needed help and he could come on a day when I made sausage and biscuits.

Bob Wright

 

[Fox Mike]

Lets see; 6 foot tall and with arms above the head 7.5-8 feet. 12 foot ladder and 14 foot ceiling. Looks as though you need to go about half way up the ladder.

 

[Paladin]

...I would definitely have my wife hold the ladder still.

Even safer for you, hold the ladder for your wife.