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Liberty SoftWash · Oct 18, 2013

Ladder stabilizer

waxman18324 · Premium Member Roof Cleaning Institute Of America

Eric,

I'm ashamed to admit that just the other day I forgot ours in the yard but 99.9999999999% of the time we use them. Our 40 and 32 foot ladders are, I believe, entirely too heavy to lean against gutters. There is always a possibilty that the gutter can get "pinched" which not only damages the gutter but dirt and algae will settle and grow in the this area leaving it unsightly.

Hank

Ugly Shingles LLC · Oct 18, 2013

We typically use them with our bigger, heavier-duty ladders. The ladder(s) that hang on the side of our skid(s) generally don't have them because they are never actually get worked off of and are never used for more than a minute or two.

Ugly Shingles LLC · Oct 18, 2013

I agree, Hank! Those bigger ladder can be VERY heavy causing a lot of damage to gutters.

Liberty SoftWash · Oct 18, 2013

Even the smaller one when climbing up and down they move from Side to side and scratch off the power coating. 16 or 40 they get a stabilizer on it. Some homeowners watch us and I would not want to lean a 16 foot up without one.

Ugly Shingles LLC · Oct 18, 2013

A ladder should have a solid foundation before attempting to climb it. If a ladder has to ability to move from side-to-side, it is not solid ground and should be secured much better before attempting to climb it. I do agree, if there is a risk of gutter damage, proper steps should be taken to protect these delicate surfaces.

hickeys45 · Premium Member Roof Cleaning Institute of America

We use them a lot more now than we did before. We also use the ladder basemate which is the best bit of kit we have bought imo. They make leveling the ladder so easy on any kind of surface.

Ugly Shingles LLC · Oct 18, 2013

Ladder leveler kits are great to have. Our larger ladders have those as well. They make working on uneven ground much safer!!

www.grainger.com/Grainger/WERNER-Ladder-Leveler-4XP35%20Handling-_-Ladders,%20Platforms%20and%20Scaffolding-_-4XP35&ci_src=17588969&ci_sku=4XP35&ef_id=UmBl5QAAADaT2xyP:20131017223413:s

Roof Cleaning Katy Texas (281) 392-2304 · Oct 18, 2013

That is the same ladder leveler kit that I use on my ladders. We always use ladder stabilizers. I would not want my gutters scratched from having a ladder put on it so why w

Ugly Shingles LLC wrote:
Ladder leveler kits are great to have. Our larger ladders have those as well. They make working on uneven ground much safer!!

www.grainger.com/Grainger/WERNER-Ladder-Leveler-4XP35%20Handling-_-Ladders,%20Platforms%20and%20Scaffolding-_-4XP35&ci_src=17588969&ci_sku=4XP35&ef_id=UmBl5QAAADaT2xyP:20131017223413:s

Doug R · Guest

We use them on every roof.

Kleen Roof and Exterior Cleaning · Oct 18, 2013

We use them on on every ladder. They make it so much safer, and like Eric said, when using them there is no chance of the ladder sliding against the gutter and scratching the paint

paroofguy · Premium Member Roof Cleaning Institute of America

We use them on every job up until this week. I had a slate roof that was installed with metal hangars and I was afraid the stabilizer would crack the slate tiles. This install is not the turn of the century slate install. They are just hung over a polypropylene sheeting on hangars, so they have a "float" to them. It must be some kind of manufactured slate system...

Anyone ever work around these types of roofs? Will they support a ladder stabilizer?

I wrapped our ladder edge with protective cloth to keep from scratching the gutter. We would like any suggestions the pros have.

Liberty SoftWash · Oct 19, 2013

They should hold up to the stabilizer. I take duck tape and make a big ball on the end of them.

RCIA Founder

Roof Cleaning By A&E wrote:
Even the smaller one when climbing up and down they move from Side to side and scratch off the power coating. 16 or 40 they get a stabilizer on it. Some homeowners watch us and I would not want to lean a 16 foot up without one.

Me either! It kind of sucks when you bend up the gutters, and your customer is watching yawn

paroofguy · Premium Member Roof Cleaning Institute of America

Thanks for the tip Eric
I see so much damaged to upper lips of gutters, and we just do not want to add to it... One more way to say "We are the professional company to do business with.

ksroofs · Premium Member Roof Cleaning Institute of America

I don't know why you wouldn't have a standoff.. For one, they add so much stability to the ladder.. Safety when roof cleaning is key! But also, it gets you away from the solution, whether you are roof cleaning or exterior cleaning, if the ladder is making contact with the roof or the siding the solution runs down the rails then onto you or your clothes. Home depot now sells standoffs that are removable with a pin, money well spent!

MJ · Oct 25, 2013

Never once have I or our employees have not used a ladder stand off, now my gutters installers are up and down so much that they don't use them and I have never see any damage caused, they set them steep and they weigh about 150.

We are looking for a new for the Werner fiberglass ladder that is not a bolt on, ladder max won't fit.

jimmyjamroofcleaninman · Guest

i always keep stabilizers on my ladders. even for the quickest job I dont risk it. i'm kind of a big guy lol so it doesnt take much of my weight to mark up a gutter

RCIA Founder

jimmyjamroofcleaninman wrote:
i always keep stabilizers on my ladders. even for the quickest job I dont risk it. i'm kind of a big guy lol so it doesnt take much of my weight to mark up a gutter

I hear ya Jimmy! I too have never met a meal I did not like biggrin

I like the removable ladder stabilizers because we use flatbed roof cleaning trucks, and the stabilizers stick out too far, if they are not easily removable.

hickeys45 · Premium Member Roof Cleaning Institute of America

We use the microlite ladder stand off, I don't have a link just now but it should come up if you google it. It is light at about 1.8kg and has soft wheels which flatten off when weight is put on them making it very stable but will roll up a wall no problem. It is very easily put on or taken off the ladder, makes getting on or off the ladder easy and safe. Have a look at it.

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