I’m 70 years old. Been a carpenter since age 17, have seen many ladder accident’s. When ever I use a ladder now I take the time to set it up right, and always tie off the top and bottom. Your life can change in the twinkling of an eye!
I'm 82 now. I always step on the ladder first and pull the top away to see that it settles at the top. Cutting branches of trees I first tie the top and then down again to fetch the chain saw. If something goes wrong you can just hold onto the ladder. Never lean sideways with your body, rather move the ladder for that ONE INCH to avoid disaster. Yes, you are correct, NEVER be in a hurry. About 60 yrs ago there was a bumper sticker on te rear of a car: "You won't be the first one BUT you could be the next one."🤣🤣🤣
@@patrick-rt8py There's people getting paid and still don't know how to be kind and to love others. Instead of being negative why don't you try to be positive?
I have used ladder levellers for years and absolutely love them. The only thing I would add is that it is worth the extra money to either buy a system that has a leveller for each leg or buy two kits so that you can put levellers on both legs. It makes it so much easier when you’re moving your lateral around when you don’t have to move a leveller from one leg to the other leg. I absolutely love your channel and look forward to each video that you publish.
I have had a top stablizer for 20 yrs. . Can't tell you how great they are. Your model is much easier to attach. I sided 3 houses with it but it made a difference. You can reace out and know your not going to end up on the ground. The thing that suprised me was the tension I lost when I climbed it EVERY time. I was extremely comfortable immediately.
Just turned 67 and 3 weeks ago I got my knowledge bump when I fell off a 6' step doing a stupid thing. Worked over 40 years in construction and only fell a couple times using scaffold, lifts and all styles and lengths of ladders. Your timing is spot on as I am in the same boat with age and the need to pay more attention when off the ground. Thanks for the reminder and hopefully others will benefit. Love you channel.
I'm 72, and this year (after major roof and chimney damage from a falling tree) I've been up and down ladders more than I've been in all the twenty or so years since hurting myself when a cheap stepladder collapsed beneath me--improper leveling. By far, the best extension ladder security enhancement I've added has been a couple of Louisville stabilizers (about 35.00 each). That side-to-side stability increase is huge, even allowing a great deal of the forbidden side reach since the side load point is out farther than you would reach. These stabilizers add safety when going up over gutters and onto the roof. Should the ladder bottom slide out, those wide arms will skid on the roof and catch the gutter to prevent catastrophe. I like to extend the ladder well past the gutter, though, so I add the liability of having to step over an outrigger when mounting and unmounting the ladder. It does offer more to grab though. I found even the light and simple Louisville stabilizer makes my 28-foot Werner too top-heavy to maneuver over a gutter two stories up. I have one permanently attached (with square U-bolts I've sourced and brackets I've fabricated from aluminum angle stock) on each of my 16- and 20-foot Werners and have not had handling problems Those Werner levelers are more like 180.00 on Amazon. Long ago, I made a small adjustable stepped block out of 3/4" plywood with ten-inch spikes holding the adjustment and driving into the ground to prevent slide-out. The foot of the ladder is captured within the device to prevent its sliding. Something not many users realize about those swinging ladder feet: they are made to pivot so those teeth bite into the ground to prevent slide-out. Those rubber foot pads are death on grass; flop the foot over so it locks to the ladder leg and digs in. All of my extension ladder use is off of grass, so I always deploy the teeth.
Just used my modified ladder for the 1st time. The confidence instilled by leveling that ladder with this product (rather than blocks of wood and cedar shingle wedges) is priceless. SO glad I happened upon this video and found one at HD! A really fine product, and much-needed around my hilly property!
Worked at a steam power plant for 37 years, learned all the safety of scaffolding, toe boards, guard rails, etc. But I was in electronics so never spent any time on a scaffold at work. Then retired and at home putting in a celling in my shop on a small wheeled scaffold with no toe boards or guard rails. Looking up and working, took a step and BAM... flat on my face on the concrete! Now I KNOW the REASON for toe boards. Got me a few of those knowledge lumps and a broken nose. My face was kind enough to break my fall from 4 feet up (only?), yes 4 feet is a long way to fall flat on your face!! Lucky I didn't split my skull or have a brain bleed. Life can change in an instant when we least expect it.
I have that exact same model and have had for about six years. It works flawlessly just put the pin in. I am a general contractor and use this quite frequently.
The automatic set with the levelers on both sides works sooooo much better. Just position the ladder, lift it, set it down. Done, no matter which side is high or low. Yeah, they are more expensive, but save you the hassle. I think they are the Level-Masters.
Thanks for the video! I looked at ladder levelers in the past and they were pricey. After watching your video, I did a search of the big box stores and found that one HD didn't say it was 'in stock' but you basically had to go and see. So I went and found they had one left in a taped up torn up box. There were a few associates standing there shooting the breeze and I pointed out the condition of the box and one said he'd knock twenty bucks off the price and I said, "deal." As for installation, my dyslexia kicked in and I misread one of the dimensions and yet somehow the installation went surprisingly well. Had I tried to follow their directions exactly, I would have never been able to get the two brackets installed correctly on my particular extension ladder.
THANK YOU for taking ladder safety seriously! Ladders cause more injuries than almost anything else for homeowners. And while $130 isn't nothing, it really is nothing, less than nothing, compared to *any* trip to the ER, or worse. Some safety things are dumb or poorly thought out, but some things are so obviously obvious in their ability to maintain life that not using them seems stupid, and these are those.
Scott, your original ladder safety video was my introduction to the Essential Craftsman universe. I have watched almost every one since, to my great enjoyment and benefit. Ladder safety will always be a top priority for me, though at 68 I'm going to think long and hard about hiring out some jobs! Thanks for this video and your channel. -Tom
On my house, I drilled two holes through the eavestrough, the width of my ladder. Into each hole I screwed a 6x3/8” lag eyelet. These eyelets keep the ladder from sliding sideways and a bungee cord can be stretched from one eyelet to the other. Works great!
10:22 Ouch! At 71 I've been banned from ladders by sister's request as I've been on the ground at the foot of more than one over the years. But I find the most dangerous things in the world are my own feet! My incidents have always occurred by climbing up and then climbing down again and getting off before I'm actually on the ground. Stepping off into nothing is an exhilarating experience, but not one I recommend.
At 77, I'm a lot more safety conscious than I've ever been. Going slow and being deliberate in your actions is essential to being able to continue working safely. I don't know how much longer I'll feel okay about ladders, getting on roofs, etc., but I can see the time coming when I'll need to leave that to others.
I have three extension ladders. One has the leveler you show in this video. The other two have another Werner leveler system where there are legs on both sides and they automatically adjust by lifting up the ladder and setting it back down. I always grab one of those two ladders when I'm doing an job. My single leg leveler is on a ladder I rarely use, but I still like it.
Yep, I live on a mountain side. Rarely do I have level ground. Both my extension ladders have the "automatic" leg leveler systems. The single side leveler worked well if that side was low but had to be swapped if it was the other side. The automatic two leg system is a "no brain-er". they just work everywhere.
@@ramoselwhat are the tow size ladders you have. Trying to figure out if I should get a 16 and a 32 (I have high interior ceiling probably 15-18 ft tall according to the iPhone measure app. Or a 20 and 32 The roof peak is probably about 30 feet tall. I’m not sure if I’d ever need to go that high
@@MB12116 You should call Werner and talk to them. They are quite helpful. The “Level Master” automatic leg levelers will work on any size ladders but I’m pretty sure they are not for every model of ladder. They work on Aluminum and Fiberglass ladders. Since you asked, my long ladder is a 26ft and is the 300lb load rating type and my 16ft ladder is rated for 250lbs.
I like all those gizmos. The extender looks a bit fidgety but there were sure times I could have used it. Ok, now my ladder story. The ladder was a tad too long to use under the eave so I didn't have the right angle (and I knew it.) Jumped up and down on it and the rubber feet held like glue. Climbed up and painted what I need and on the first rung down the ladder slipped and the feet slid away from the building. It wouldn't have been too bad, but on the way down it hit something underneath and flipped me off onto three concrete steps. Three huge bruises for weeks...I think the prayer saved me from the emergency room. I have a "slip and fall five days before major surgery" story too, but I'll spare you. Haha. Glad you don't have a concussion or worse.
Awesome upload: informative n interesting ! My mantra is SAFETY FIRST before reasonable cost, extra effort/time etc. Can't substitute ur safety ! Kudos for informative vid. Anticipating ur next one. Peace
I´m 71 and painted my two story house when I was your age. The first thing I did was to add that stabilizer for the top of the ladder. The second thing I did was to add padding to the ends (legs) of that stabilizer to protect the cedar siding. It feels so much better with that upgrade.
I’ve been using the same stabilizer for 20 years. Love it. Colonial style home. Fits right over windows. Also when I clean out our gutters 2x year the set back makes the job easier. I’m still using various PCs of wood to manage uneven grades. But will need to look into the extension set up. Thanks.
The OSHA fall prevention class I attended 30(?) years ago taught hands on rungs, not rails, and at least 3 point of contact with the ladder at all times. My dad got an earlier version stabilizer for the top of the ladder. I’ve had one like yours for at least 25 years. A friend of mine bought a heavy duty Little Giant fiberglass extension ladder that has built-in levelers that can angle out from the rail to further resist tipping to either side.
my first job which was gutter and fascia repair business this guy owned. We used the second thing you showed in the video to prevent the ladder from resting on the gutter damaging it, and MAN it can grip the roof good!
I use a harness every time I am on a ladder . I installed permanent anchors on my roof . I practice my Tarzan yell just in case I ever fall . Lol. A ladder offset is a must .
About thirty years ago, I had a neighbour who was a grumpy old ex-Czech resistance fighter. A good man, but fierce and independent. Hitler couldn't hurt him, but a poorly fixed ladder broke his back in Father's Day. It's a very sobering experience to be the first responder jumping the fence for that. I have a leveler, and a wall brace as shown. Love them both, despite the weight and upfront awkwardness.
The one on top will keep you from damaging the gutters and if the gutters are flimsy it can get above them onto the shingles and it'll hook right above a warehouse wall too
I'm 67, this summer I pained my house. Was able to buy a werner construction grade ladder off marketplace. Wisest & Safest thing I done in years. It was sturdy, solid, & level entire time. Was 18 feet above ground. Tied off to anchor it from kicking out.
For me the hardest part of using an extension ladder is the dismount at the top and the remount when you're coming down. I'm a big guy, and feeling the ladder tilt left or right as I'm side stepping just creates a huge mental brake for me. I had nightmares about falling sideways off of a ladder for a long time when I first started in the trades. Now, I have a set of Guardian Fall Protection Safe-T Ladder Extension. They easily clip into the top of any extension ladder and let you dismount by walking straight through. Dismount is the same in reverse. A little spendy at $200 and they really do make your ladder top heavy and difficult to set up, but I still use them everytime I need an extension ladder.
Good suggestions. The most important one is remembering how dangerous a ladder can be. Whenever I use a ladder, I repeat to myself over and over, "This is the most dangerous tool I own. This is the most dangerous..."
I like the ladder extender tool. On the side of my house I installed 5/8th stainless steel carriage eye bolts into the T111 and then caulked around them before painting over them. I then used them as tie offs while painting the house. The Standoffs are nice, but the ladder can still slide sideways when you're up at the top, which is not a good place to be. With the ladder tied off I had more confidence and one less thing to think about when I wanted to focus on the painting. I don't mind them being up there and hopefully they will still be solid next time I paint. Thanks for sharing.
Don't ever put carpet under the ladders feet either, when I was 12, my dad, place he worked for had a ladder with carpet attached to the feet.. fell and broke his wrist. His workplace didn't care, paid for his medical but, that was it. I have one of those stabilizers, works great, only issue, they make storing a ladder a bit of a pain without remove the stabilizer. Anymore, I hate ladders, heights give me issues and usually for when i do need a ladder, it's usually against a light pole changing the outside yard light bulb even with someone holding the ladder. Great video as always, cheers :)
I use the Xtenda ladder leveler for 20 years. (The round rod type ) When they get worn, they slip a bit but then it's time to replace . Best way to level it up is to extend a little beyond what you need and then step on the clip to let gravity help bring it level. My worst fall was using my 6 foot sectional ( 3 sections in this instance), I was in an elevated brick planter full of stiff foliage, the ladder shifted downward in the planter, the sectional hung on a window molding, the sectional separated, I rode what was left of the ladder into the backyard. I employed a Captain Kirk shoulder roll and went back to work. (Luckeeee)
Hi Scott, I met you for the first time in Sacramento at the Jazz jubilee in about 1976. We are about the same age an you are still making important impressions. I just installed a similar extension leg on my ladder this month as do Fall maintenance on my property in Washington State.
LeveLok is the company that makes them for Werner... LeveLok was beyond fantastic helping me mount them on an older fiberglass ladder. The leveLoks with the outrigger stabilizers are the cats meow!
Love your videos…thanks for sharing knowledge so we don’t have to learn everything the hard way! Spinning blades command instant, obvious respect, but until you said it, I never really thought about how hyper-aware I am anytime I’m more than 3 feet off the ground. Clearly I’m not giving enough respect to 0-3 feet AGL.
Fell off of a 4-foot step ladder when I was building my shop a little over 10 years ago. (I was 42 at the time). I was extending my arms up high to nail on some siding with my pneumatic nailer. I should've used the taller ladder, but I wanted to get it done quickly and decided I could carry the smaller. lighter ladder and my nailer at the same time. I over-extended, the ladder tipped, and down I went. And I landed on gravel. Thankfully I didn't land on my head, mainly by backside and my back. And to be honest, I was more worried about my (new) pneumatic nailer than I was myself. That day, I learned to take the time and get the right tool(s) for the job and don't rush it, even if you're in a hurry. It could've ended up much worse. Thankfully, I wasn't THAT high off the ground. Still, if I'd have landed on my head, I probably would've wound up in the ER getting stitches...or worse.
I learned the importance of taking the necessary time to ensure your ladder is rock solid when I rode an extension ladder to the ground. I broke two toes at the sudden stop at the bottom of my abrupt and unplanned descent to the ground. I was lucky that was my only injury.
Both of my ladder near accidents involved the ladder base slipping on a smooth dusty surface. Rode an 8' stepladder down leaning against the wall from 4', no injuries, but boy did everyone come running. Had a tall extension ladder leaning against a beam when it started slipping on a tile floor. It stopped just short of slipping off the beam.
Get a lader "pivit". It is a brand name , they are available in most paint stores and they have many uses, work great for holding tool on a roof pitch etc
The leveling feet are a great addition. They also sell extra brackets, so you can have one foot that fits multiple ladders. I don't think the stabilizer adds much weight, but it does increase the height by about 3', which does make the lever arm just that much longer when you are trying to stand the ladder up or otherwise manipulate it.
I first used one of these leg-levelers when about fifteen years ago when I was an apprentice. Total game changer. We used to do some incredibly stupid things to set up ladders, these things are super safe, never had an issue with one as long as it's used correctly.
When I'd used them before we called those stabilizers at the top "Stand-offs". They do make things feel more stable, but have a bit of a big trade off in available "tool pressure". It's harder to put your body weight in to a task way up high when using them, which is admittedly not really a problem for normal people washing or painting on a house, but can be a serious complication if you're having to drill something hard 20+ feet in the air.
Ladder safety is no joke. Shattered my tibia and fibula in my right leg when the ladder slipped out from under me coming off a single story roof. Another tip i thought of as i was laying down on the ground with a broken leg was parking the work van within a foot or so of the base of the ladder which would have prevented it from sliding out from under me.
I just turned 60. My house takes a ton of maintenance at the top of a 30ft ladder. It’s expensive and frankly difficult to find someone to come work on my house. After looking at the alternatives, I decided to spend some extra money on the little giant “sumo stance“ line of ladders. They aren’t the lightest or cheapest ladder. They are fiberglass. That seems to make them stiffer than the aluminum ladders. The feature I like the most is their Built-in stabilizing and leveling legs at the bottom. They are permanently attached. I really like how they flare out to help prevent tip over. Like many things it’s a compromise. They cost more and weigh more then alternatives. The extra rigidity and stability seems worth it to me.
My grandpa is in the same boat, but 20 years older. The method we use to keep ourselves safe is only have a 16 foot ladder, which means all the tall stuff has to be hired.😊
Scott is the best... One more custom build video still waiting😂. I know its a bunch of production work but you nailed the last 150 sum videos on previous custom build. Keep up the great work sir..
I love standouts, I yry to use them any time im on an extension ladder. It adds an incredible amount of stability AND doesn't scratch up the gutters. I dont want to pay for damage to copper gutters from my ladder.
I’ve seen painters for years pad the tops of ladders with just rags and duct tape. The foot adjuster thingee seems like a great idea. Seems a little fiddley though. The top stabilizer seems well worth it if you’ll plan on leaning out the sides a lot.
$54 for the leg levellers is crazy good, just looked at the Featherlite levellers(same thing) at Home Depot in Canada and they want $299 Canadian which is about $230 US. I think I'll look to buy and have shipped to me in Canada.
Speaking of Super Glue, if you ever get Super Glue on your fingers or anywhere else on your body don't use Chemicals like Acetone or nail polish remover to get it off, use Sandpaper! The Sandpaper will sand down the Super Glue while leaving the skin untouched/damaged. 👍👍 Also if you Super Glue your finger to something don't just pull your finger off the surface as it will tear skin off, instead twist your finger off the surface.
i've been silly all these years using those make your own shape climbing ladders as (uncomfortable) step ladders to work inside house. i bought a step ladder and find it much better for that.
Just me but....regarding the stabilizer....Depending on the situation I favor extending the ladder *after* raising it in place. Lots easier to move around. And in tighter places less likely to snag on something.
12:33- Anytime Scott talks about safety is a Good Thing!!! However, maneuvering a METAL ext. ladder in very close proximity to overhead light bulbs is a potentially deadly thing to do. Accidentally breaking a bulb by hitting it with the ladder could kill a person.
When my Air Cons where getting professionaly cleaned, they snapped off two light bulbs with their ladder. I didn't notice at the time as it was in the spare rooms. They wouldn't come back to fix. So more $$ for a sparky.
And stay safe, yes ladders are dangerous when installing 90 pound felt underlayment I had the A frame ladder sideways to the roof. Well I tipped the ladder and fell , landing atop the ladder cracking a rib. This was on the weekend so I had to call my boss and let him know that I was unfit for work. And that someone else had to cover the job that I was to do on Monday. Please think about you are about to do and what could go wrong, plan ahead.
Being one of the oldsters too (76), not falling is a bigger priority for me these days too. About the Werner leg levelers, what is the range of adjustment? How far does it extend? Six, ten inches or more?
The guy who looks after the trees and big hedge in my garden has a step ladder that has a wide spread at the bottom, and a single back leg so it has a tripod base to the ground. It's pretty high, and looks super stable when he uses it. I learned my lesson too late, and fell four metres from the top of a ladder - leaning out to cut that one more branch. I broke my back and two ribs, and will have to rely on pain killers for the rest of my life.
Love the third leg added the top bar to mine but as a 60 year old 300 pound guy the top bar is very heavy to carry my weight and standing up the ladder is a challenge watching you in your shop you got to cheat using the concrete lip but that being said both add ones are worth it
Can the top stabilizer be mounted below the top rung of the ladder in order to allow the ladder to extend above the roof line in order to climb on the roof? That way I can safely grab the ladder from maybe about 3 or 4 feet above the trim fascia of the roof when I am getting down from the roof. Please reply, as this is very important to me. Thanks.
This is funny I'm a framer and I learned about stand offs ladder jacks and levelers from a painter before that I just used wall jacks or pump jacks or scaffolding or a lift but sometimes ladder jacks and a plank are all you need
I use chains to tie the ladder to the wall. Bottom chain with turn buck. Top chain is secured with chain lock. I make the bottom chain pass through the ladder step
My two 24’ Werner’s have built-in levelers and a bubble level in the base. They use pins that insert through various holes to adjust each leg. Works great, probably less sketchy than these installed ones.
Different application but I learned in the underground mining industry never to grab the steps as is they are rusted through without you seeing it, you'll be flying soon. As well. learned to place your feet on the edges instead of the middle for the same reason. Now on the surface, I've seen ladders that weren't in much better shape than experienced underground. So different application but suggest worth thought
Top stabilizer also holds your ladder off the wall just a bit for cleaning the gutters. Otherwise you either lean the ladder on the gutter itself (crushing it), or have to work directly above your head instead of in front of you.
I found the best safety measure to take when using a ladder to get onto a roof is to use a metal strap and 2 big structural screws to attach the ladder directly to the building. When done, just fill ythe holes with caulk.
I was just using my extension ladder yesterday to get on the 12' roof of my shop. I had a heck of a time getting the feet level and secure on the uneven dirt. I'm going to get both of these products before the next time I need that ladder. I wonder why the manufacturer didn't attach the keeper pin to the moveable part instead of having one affixed to each leg of the ladder.
One tiny point about hand position when climbing a ladder. Usually you are doing it wrong! ..... Me too! ...... Because we climb it to do something and usually we need to carry something up so we are at least half a hand down! 3 points of contact no longer works!. With this in mind, my preferred method is to use the side not the rungs. An additional benefit of this is that you are kinetically aware of the change from single rung to double, then back again! This Should not make a difference ..... but it does! That little shock when you are in mid air and your foot does not connect exactly where you expect it to can take your mind of more important things! As I said a tiny point ...... but sometimes tiny things can make a difference!
A head scar is basically proof of (1) living a long life and (2) getting stuff done. I don't know any elder-aged hard workers that don't have a battle wound somewhere on their head. Earned mine a few years ago. Lucky enough to have hair that still covers it.
As I get older... and a bit more cautious... I find I do have a problem with transitioning from a ladder to the roof and back. My Werner rep told me about their X300000 "Walk Through" extensions for the top of the ladder. I really wish you had covered those. For safety and ease of transition, anyone who has to go on roofs should look into them. They make getting on and off a roof simple. No need for the side step, reach around. But it does mean you have to have the right ladder for the job. And fortunately, the X300000s do come off and transfer quite easily ladder to ladder.
It must be great to own an aluminum extension ladder. I inherited a 32 foot wooden ladder that was new back in the 1960's. I don't know it's exact weight, but is very tough for my 75 year old body to raise and move.
I bought a used fiberglass extension ladder that is very heavy. I use my tractors forks to move the ladder around to each side of the shop. It is a bit sketchy but it has not fallen to the side, yet. I narrow the forks just enough to fit between the rungs and lever it up. I sometimes put the front tractor bar against the ladder to prevent front slippage.
I’m 70 years old. Been a carpenter since age 17, have seen many ladder accident’s. When ever I use a ladder now I take the time to set it up right, and always tie off the top and bottom. Your life can change in the twinkling of an eye!
I'm 82 now. I always step on the ladder first and pull the top away to see that it settles at the top. Cutting branches of trees I first tie the top and then down again to fetch the chain saw. If something goes wrong you can just hold onto the ladder. Never lean sideways with your body, rather move the ladder for that ONE INCH to avoid disaster. Yes, you are correct, NEVER be in a hurry. About 60 yrs ago there was a bumper sticker on te rear of a car: "You won't be the first one BUT you could be the next one."🤣🤣🤣
I am way younger than you and I rarely use ladders. I use scaffolding instead.
It's been said thousands of times, but I'll say it again. What a gem of a person. We're all so spoiled to have him in our lives. ❤
Yeh , like he is doing it for free 😂😂
@patrick-rt8py we're not paying for it
@chrismitchell4665 yeh but he is getting paid for it, how nice and obliging would he be if he had to do it for free
He's not in your life bro
@@patrick-rt8py There's people getting paid and still don't know how to be kind and to love others. Instead of being negative why don't you try to be positive?
I have used ladder levellers for years and absolutely love them. The only thing I would add is that it is worth the extra money to either buy a system that has a leveller for each leg or buy two kits so that you can put levellers on both legs. It makes it so much easier when you’re moving your lateral around when you don’t have to move a leveller from one leg to the other leg. I absolutely love your channel and look forward to each video that you publish.
I have had a top stablizer for 20 yrs. . Can't tell you how great they are. Your model is much easier to attach. I sided 3 houses with it but it made a difference. You can reace out and know your not going to end up on the ground. The thing that suprised me was the tension I lost when I climbed it EVERY time. I was extremely comfortable immediately.
Just turned 67 and 3 weeks ago I got my knowledge bump when I fell off a 6' step doing a stupid thing. Worked over 40 years in construction and only fell a couple times using scaffold, lifts and all styles and lengths of ladders. Your timing is spot on as I am in the same boat with age and the need to pay more attention when off the ground. Thanks for the reminder and hopefully others will benefit. Love you channel.
I'm 72, and this year (after major roof and chimney damage from a falling tree) I've been up and down ladders more than I've been in all the twenty or so years since hurting myself when a cheap stepladder collapsed beneath me--improper leveling. By far, the best extension ladder security enhancement I've added has been a couple of Louisville stabilizers (about 35.00 each).
That side-to-side stability increase is huge, even allowing a great deal of the forbidden side reach since the side load point is out farther than you would reach. These stabilizers add safety when going up over gutters and onto the roof. Should the ladder bottom slide out, those wide arms will skid on the roof and catch the gutter to prevent catastrophe. I like to extend the ladder well past the gutter, though, so I add the liability of having to step over an outrigger when mounting and unmounting the ladder. It does offer more to grab though. I found even the light and simple Louisville stabilizer makes my 28-foot Werner too top-heavy to maneuver over a gutter two stories up. I have one permanently attached (with square U-bolts I've sourced and brackets I've fabricated from aluminum angle stock) on each of my 16- and 20-foot Werners and have not had handling problems
Those Werner levelers are more like 180.00 on Amazon. Long ago, I made a small adjustable stepped block out of 3/4" plywood with ten-inch spikes holding the adjustment and driving into the ground to prevent slide-out. The foot of the ladder is captured within the device to prevent its sliding. Something not many users realize about those swinging ladder feet: they are made to pivot so those teeth bite into the ground to prevent slide-out. Those rubber foot pads are death on grass; flop the foot over so it locks to the ladder leg and digs in. All of my extension ladder use is off of grass, so I always deploy the teeth.
As a fellow 66 year old, I have the stabilizer and IMO it's wonderful. Makes the whole ladder much more stable. Great for painting.
Just used my modified ladder for the 1st time. The confidence instilled by leveling that ladder with this product (rather than blocks of wood and cedar shingle wedges) is priceless. SO glad I happened upon this video and found one at HD! A really fine product, and much-needed around my hilly property!
I have been using this for a long time in Window cleaning, works great,makes the ladder more heavy but I like it.
Worked at a steam power plant for 37 years, learned all the safety of scaffolding, toe boards, guard rails, etc. But I was in electronics so never spent any time on a scaffold at work. Then retired and at home putting in a celling in my shop on a small wheeled scaffold with no toe boards or guard rails. Looking up and working, took a step and BAM... flat on my face on the concrete! Now I KNOW the REASON for toe boards. Got me a few of those knowledge lumps and a broken nose. My face was kind enough to break my fall from 4 feet up (only?), yes 4 feet is a long way to fall flat on your face!! Lucky I didn't split my skull or have a brain bleed. Life can change in an instant when we least expect it.
Broke my arm, pin at wrist, from about 4 feet. Lucky just my arm.
I have that exact same model and have had for about six years. It works flawlessly just put the pin in. I am a general contractor and use this quite frequently.
The automatic set with the levelers on both sides works sooooo much better. Just position the ladder, lift it, set it down. Done, no matter which side is high or low. Yeah, they are more expensive, but save you the hassle. I think they are the Level-Masters.
Thanks for the video! I looked at ladder levelers in the past and they were pricey. After watching your video, I did a search of the big box stores and found that one HD didn't say it was 'in stock' but you basically had to go and see. So I went and found they had one left in a taped up torn up box. There were a few associates standing there shooting the breeze and I pointed out the condition of the box and one said he'd knock twenty bucks off the price and I said, "deal." As for installation, my dyslexia kicked in and I misread one of the dimensions and yet somehow the installation went surprisingly well. Had I tried to follow their directions exactly, I would have never been able to get the two brackets installed correctly on my particular extension ladder.
THANK YOU for taking ladder safety seriously! Ladders cause more injuries than almost anything else for homeowners. And while $130 isn't nothing, it really is nothing, less than nothing, compared to *any* trip to the ER, or worse. Some safety things are dumb or poorly thought out, but some things are so obviously obvious in their ability to maintain life that not using them seems stupid, and these are those.
Scott, your original ladder safety video was my introduction to the Essential Craftsman universe. I have watched almost every one since, to my great enjoyment and benefit. Ladder safety will always be a top priority for me, though at 68 I'm going to think long and hard about hiring out some jobs! Thanks for this video and your channel. -Tom
On my house, I drilled two holes through the eavestrough, the width of my ladder. Into each hole I screwed a 6x3/8” lag eyelet. These eyelets keep the ladder from sliding sideways and a bungee cord can be stretched from one eyelet to the other. Works great!
10:22 Ouch! At 71 I've been banned from ladders by sister's request as I've been on the ground at the foot of more than one over the years. But I find the most dangerous things in the world are my own feet! My incidents have always occurred by climbing up and then climbing down again and getting off before I'm actually on the ground. Stepping off into nothing is an exhilarating experience, but not one I recommend.
Yea, I’ve gotten off a ladder when I thought I was all the way down and I wasn’t, I was thankful I was only one step off. Lol
At 77, I'm a lot more safety conscious than I've ever been. Going slow and being deliberate in your actions is essential to being able to continue working safely. I don't know how much longer I'll feel okay about ladders, getting on roofs, etc., but I can see the time coming when I'll need to leave that to others.
I have three extension ladders. One has the leveler you show in this video. The other two have another Werner leveler system where there are legs on both sides and they automatically adjust by lifting up the ladder and setting it back down. I always grab one of those two ladders when I'm doing an job. My single leg leveler is on a ladder I rarely use, but I still like it.
Yep, I live on a mountain side. Rarely do I have level ground. Both my extension ladders have the "automatic" leg leveler systems. The single side leveler worked well if that side was low but had to be swapped if it was the other side. The automatic two leg system is a "no brain-er". they just work everywhere.
thanks for posting !
@@ramoselwhat are the tow size ladders you have. Trying to figure out if I should get a 16 and a 32 (I have high interior ceiling probably 15-18 ft tall according to the iPhone measure app. Or a 20 and 32
The roof peak is probably about 30 feet tall. I’m not sure if I’d ever need to go that high
@@MB12116 You should call Werner and talk to them. They are quite helpful. The “Level Master” automatic leg levelers will work on any size ladders but I’m pretty sure they are not for every model of ladder. They work on Aluminum and Fiberglass ladders. Since you asked, my long ladder is a 26ft and is the 300lb load rating type and my 16ft ladder is rated for 250lbs.
I like all those gizmos. The extender looks a bit fidgety but there were sure times I could have used it.
Ok, now my ladder story. The ladder was a tad too long to use under the eave so I didn't have the right angle (and I knew it.) Jumped up and down on it and the rubber feet held like glue. Climbed up and painted what I need and on the first rung down the ladder slipped and the feet slid away from the building. It wouldn't have been too bad, but on the way down it hit something underneath and flipped me off onto three concrete steps. Three huge bruises for weeks...I think the prayer saved me from the emergency room. I have a "slip and fall five days before major surgery" story too, but I'll spare you. Haha. Glad you don't have a concussion or worse.
Awesome upload: informative n interesting ! My mantra is SAFETY FIRST before reasonable cost, extra effort/time etc. Can't substitute ur safety ! Kudos for informative vid. Anticipating ur next one. Peace
I´m 71 and painted my two story house when I was your age. The first thing I did was to add that stabilizer for the top of the ladder. The second thing I did was to add padding to the ends (legs) of that stabilizer to protect the cedar siding. It feels so much better with that upgrade.
I’ve been using the same stabilizer for 20 years. Love it. Colonial style home. Fits right over windows. Also when I clean out our gutters 2x year the set back makes the job easier. I’m still using various PCs of wood to manage uneven grades. But will need to look into the extension set up. Thanks.
The OSHA fall prevention class I attended 30(?) years ago taught hands on rungs, not rails, and at least 3 point of contact with the ladder at all times. My dad got an earlier version stabilizer for the top of the ladder. I’ve had one like yours for at least 25 years. A friend of mine bought a heavy duty Little Giant fiberglass extension ladder that has built-in levelers that can angle out from the rail to further resist tipping to either side.
As advertised it's a gem for setting up sideways on steps. Very useful for that application. Cheers 🇨🇦
That’s what I was going to ask. Thanks.
my first job which was gutter and fascia repair business this guy owned. We used the second thing you showed in the video to prevent the ladder from resting on the gutter damaging it, and MAN it can grip the roof good!
I use a harness every time I am on a ladder . I installed permanent anchors on my roof . I practice my Tarzan yell just in case I ever fall . Lol. A ladder offset is a must .
About thirty years ago, I had a neighbour who was a grumpy old ex-Czech resistance fighter. A good man, but fierce and independent. Hitler couldn't hurt him, but a poorly fixed ladder broke his back in Father's Day. It's a very sobering experience to be the first responder jumping the fence for that.
I have a leveler, and a wall brace as shown. Love them both, despite the weight and upfront awkwardness.
The one on top will keep you from damaging the gutters and if the gutters are flimsy it can get above them onto the shingles and it'll hook right above a warehouse wall too
I'm 67, this summer I pained my house. Was able to buy a werner construction grade ladder off marketplace. Wisest & Safest thing I done in years. It was sturdy, solid, & level entire time. Was 18 feet above ground. Tied off to anchor it from kicking out.
Thank you so much for sharing, buy making this video you have saved lots of injuries and deaths.
Sweet. I definitely need one. There are no level places around my house. Really tired of monkeying with shims.
For me the hardest part of using an extension ladder is the dismount at the top and the remount when you're coming down. I'm a big guy, and feeling the ladder tilt left or right as I'm side stepping just creates a huge mental brake for me. I had nightmares about falling sideways off of a ladder for a long time when I first started in the trades.
Now, I have a set of Guardian Fall Protection Safe-T Ladder Extension. They easily clip into the top of any extension ladder and let you dismount by walking straight through. Dismount is the same in reverse. A little spendy at $200 and they really do make your ladder top heavy and difficult to set up, but I still use them everytime I need an extension ladder.
Good suggestions. The most important one is remembering how dangerous a ladder can be. Whenever I use a ladder, I repeat to myself over and over, "This is the most dangerous tool I own. This is the most dangerous..."
I like the ladder extender tool. On the side of my house I installed 5/8th stainless steel carriage eye bolts into the T111 and then caulked around them before painting over them. I then used them as tie offs while painting the house. The Standoffs are nice, but the ladder can still slide sideways when you're up at the top, which is not a good place to be. With the ladder tied off I had more confidence and one less thing to think about when I wanted to focus on the painting. I don't mind them being up there and hopefully they will still be solid next time I paint. Thanks for sharing.
For dirt and grass I always flip the feet and drive them a bit into the ground. It helps to level and is less prone to the feet slipping.
Thanks for the info on the levelers. I have #2 and #3 and they do make a difference.
Don't ever put carpet under the ladders feet either, when I was 12, my dad, place he worked for had a ladder with carpet attached to the feet.. fell and broke his wrist. His workplace didn't care, paid for his medical but, that was it. I have one of those stabilizers, works great, only issue, they make storing a ladder a bit of a pain without remove the stabilizer. Anymore, I hate ladders, heights give me issues and usually for when i do need a ladder, it's usually against a light pole changing the outside yard light bulb even with someone holding the ladder. Great video as always, cheers :)
I use the Xtenda ladder leveler for 20 years. (The round rod type ) When they get worn, they slip a bit but then it's time to replace . Best way to level it up is to extend a little beyond what you need and then step on the clip to let gravity help bring it level.
My worst fall was using my 6 foot sectional ( 3 sections in this instance), I was in an elevated brick planter full of stiff foliage, the ladder shifted downward in the planter, the sectional hung on a window molding, the sectional separated, I rode what was left of the ladder into the backyard. I employed a Captain Kirk shoulder roll and went back to work. (Luckeeee)
Excellent advice as always - your instructions on ladders have made me safer but also feel safer for many a year now - so thank you!
Hi Scott, I met you for the first time in Sacramento at the Jazz jubilee in about 1976. We are about the same age an you are still making important impressions. I just installed a similar extension leg on my ladder this month as do Fall maintenance on my property in Washington State.
LeveLok is the company that makes them for Werner...
LeveLok was beyond fantastic helping me mount them on an older fiberglass ladder.
The leveLoks with the outrigger stabilizers are the cats meow!
Love your videos…thanks for sharing knowledge so we don’t have to learn everything the hard way! Spinning blades command instant, obvious respect, but until you said it, I never really thought about how hyper-aware I am anytime I’m more than 3 feet off the ground. Clearly I’m not giving enough respect to 0-3 feet AGL.
Fell off of a 4-foot step ladder when I was building my shop a little over 10 years ago. (I was 42 at the time). I was extending my arms up high to nail on some siding with my pneumatic nailer. I should've used the taller ladder, but I wanted to get it done quickly and decided I could carry the smaller. lighter ladder and my nailer at the same time.
I over-extended, the ladder tipped, and down I went. And I landed on gravel. Thankfully I didn't land on my head, mainly by backside and my back. And to be honest, I was more worried about my (new) pneumatic nailer than I was myself.
That day, I learned to take the time and get the right tool(s) for the job and don't rush it, even if you're in a hurry. It could've ended up much worse. Thankfully, I wasn't THAT high off the ground. Still, if I'd have landed on my head, I probably would've wound up in the ER getting stitches...or worse.
tell everybody how stupid you are
I’ve got all three. My leveler is on both sides so I don’y have to move it.Thanks for telling others about these tips.
I learned the importance of taking the necessary time to ensure your ladder is rock solid when I rode an extension ladder to the ground. I broke two toes at the sudden stop at the bottom of my abrupt and unplanned descent to the ground. I was lucky that was my only injury.
Both of my ladder near accidents involved the ladder base slipping on a smooth dusty surface. Rode an 8' stepladder down leaning against the wall from 4', no injuries, but boy did everyone come running. Had a tall extension ladder leaning against a beam when it started slipping on a tile floor. It stopped just short of slipping off the beam.
Get a lader "pivit". It is a brand name , they are available in most paint stores and they have many uses, work great for holding tool on a roof pitch etc
Thank you for sharing your wisdom with us.
The leveling feet are a great addition. They also sell extra brackets, so you can have one foot that fits multiple ladders.
I don't think the stabilizer adds much weight, but it does increase the height by about 3', which does make the lever arm just that much longer when you are trying to stand the ladder up or otherwise manipulate it.
I first used one of these leg-levelers when about fifteen years ago when I was an apprentice.
Total game changer. We used to do some incredibly stupid things to set up ladders, these things are super safe, never had an issue with one as long as it's used correctly.
When I'd used them before we called those stabilizers at the top "Stand-offs". They do make things feel more stable, but have a bit of a big trade off in available "tool pressure". It's harder to put your body weight in to a task way up high when using them, which is admittedly not really a problem for normal people washing or painting on a house, but can be a serious complication if you're having to drill something hard 20+ feet in the air.
Interesting timing, I just watched your last 2 ladder safety vids last night
Learning from ALL your comments. Thank you for reducing from getting hurt.
Happy to see you're ok from the fall .
Love, love, LOVE that top stabilizer! Wonderful. Thank you 🇨🇦
Ladder safety is no joke. Shattered my tibia and fibula in my right leg when the ladder slipped out from under me coming off a single story roof.
Another tip i thought of as i was laying down on the ground with a broken leg was parking the work van within a foot or so of the base of the ladder which would have prevented it from sliding out from under me.
Love every one of those things. The removable standoff is the best!
I just turned 60. My house takes a ton of maintenance at the top of a 30ft ladder. It’s expensive and frankly difficult to find someone to come work on my house. After looking at the alternatives, I decided to spend some extra money on the little giant “sumo stance“ line of ladders. They aren’t the lightest or cheapest ladder. They are fiberglass. That seems to make them stiffer than the aluminum ladders. The feature I like the most is their Built-in stabilizing and leveling legs at the bottom. They are permanently attached. I really like how they flare out to help prevent tip over. Like many things it’s a compromise. They cost more and weigh more then alternatives. The extra rigidity and stability seems worth it to me.
My grandpa is in the same boat, but 20 years older. The method we use to keep ourselves safe is only have a 16 foot ladder, which means all the tall stuff has to be hired.😊
No matter what age, ladder safety is real. And lack of can be deadly.
Scott is the best... One more custom build video still waiting😂. I know its a bunch of production work but you nailed the last 150 sum videos on previous custom build. Keep up the great work sir..
Scott, the stabilizer allows you to rest the ladder on the shingles avoiding resting on the gutters when hanging Christmas lights.
Thank you for recording and posting this valuable educational video.
I love standouts, I yry to use them any time im on an extension ladder. It adds an incredible amount of stability AND doesn't scratch up the gutters. I dont want to pay for damage to copper gutters from my ladder.
I’ve seen painters for years pad the tops of ladders with just rags and duct tape.
The foot adjuster thingee seems like a great idea. Seems a little fiddley though.
The top stabilizer seems well worth it if you’ll plan on leaning out the sides a lot.
I’m glad you recovered from your fall. Keep safe in the house.😮
$54 for the leg levellers is crazy good, just looked at the Featherlite levellers(same thing) at Home Depot in Canada and they want $299 Canadian which is about $230 US. I think I'll look to buy and have shipped to me in Canada.
Thank you for the timely advice👍
Speaking of Super Glue, if you ever get Super Glue on your fingers or anywhere else on your body don't use Chemicals like Acetone or nail polish remover to get it off, use Sandpaper! The Sandpaper will sand down the Super Glue while leaving the skin untouched/damaged. 👍👍
Also if you Super Glue your finger to something don't just pull your finger off the surface as it will tear skin off, instead twist your finger off the surface.
i've been silly all these years using those make your own shape climbing ladders as (uncomfortable) step ladders to work inside house.
i bought a step ladder and find it much better for that.
Just me but....regarding the stabilizer....Depending on the situation I favor extending the ladder *after* raising it in place. Lots easier to move around. And in tighter places less likely to snag on something.
12:33- Anytime Scott talks about safety is a Good Thing!!! However, maneuvering a METAL ext. ladder in very close proximity to overhead light bulbs is a potentially deadly thing to do. Accidentally breaking a bulb by hitting it with the ladder could kill a person.
When my Air Cons where getting professionaly cleaned, they snapped off two light bulbs with their ladder. I didn't notice at the time as it was in the spare rooms. They wouldn't come back to fix. So more $$ for a sparky.
And stay safe, yes ladders are dangerous when installing 90 pound felt underlayment I had the A frame ladder sideways to the roof. Well I tipped the ladder and fell , landing atop the ladder cracking a rib. This was on the weekend so I had to call my boss and let him know that I was unfit for work. And that someone else had to cover the job that I was to do on Monday. Please think about you are about to do and what could go wrong, plan ahead.
I can vouch for those ladder stabilizers, in my
Opinion they are a bit heavy but still worth it.
Thx. I live on these ladders.
Being one of the oldsters too (76), not falling is a bigger priority for me these days too. About the Werner leg levelers, what is the range of adjustment? How far does it extend? Six, ten inches or more?
The box claims 10 inches. I haven't actually measured mine, but that sounds plausible.
The guy who looks after the trees and big hedge in my garden has a step ladder that has a wide spread at the bottom, and a single back leg so it has a tripod base to the ground. It's pretty high, and looks super stable when he uses it. I learned my lesson too late, and fell four metres from the top of a ladder - leaning out to cut that one more branch. I broke my back and two ribs, and will have to rely on pain killers for the rest of my life.
Love the third leg added the top bar to mine but as a 60 year old 300 pound guy the top bar is very heavy to carry my weight and standing up the ladder is a challenge watching you in your shop you got to cheat using the concrete lip but that being said both add ones are worth it
used all that for a pointing job, Felt real safe!!!!!!!
Can the top stabilizer be mounted below the top rung of the ladder in order to allow the ladder to extend above the roof line in order to climb on the roof?
That way I can safely grab the ladder from maybe about 3 or 4 feet above the trim fascia of the roof when I am getting down from the roof.
Please reply, as this is very important to me.
Thanks.
Yessir safety always!!! Making a ladder safer educational video... 😂💪🏻🫶🏻
This is funny I'm a framer and I learned about stand offs ladder jacks and levelers from a painter before that I just used wall jacks or pump jacks or scaffolding or a lift but sometimes ladder jacks and a plank are all you need
I use chains to tie the ladder to the wall. Bottom chain with turn buck. Top chain is secured with chain lock. I make the bottom chain pass through the ladder step
My two 24’ Werner’s have built-in levelers and a bubble level in the base. They use pins that insert through various holes to adjust each leg. Works great, probably less sketchy than these installed ones.
if you need a bubble level on a ladder you might be an idiot
Definitely need some Swing Set plastic hammer on thread covers.
Different application but I learned in the underground mining industry never to grab the steps as is they are rusted through without you seeing it, you'll be flying soon. As well. learned to place your feet on the edges instead of the middle for the same reason. Now on the surface, I've seen ladders that weren't in much better shape than experienced underground. So different application but suggest worth thought
Top stabilizer also holds your ladder off the wall just a bit for cleaning the gutters. Otherwise you either lean the ladder on the gutter itself (crushing it), or have to work directly above your head instead of in front of you.
I found the best safety measure to take when using a ladder to get onto a roof is to use a metal strap and 2 big structural screws to attach the ladder directly to the building. When done, just fill ythe holes with caulk.
Great tips!
I own a Werner ladder. It has many virtues but is a bear to raise when extended.
Thanks for all the help and great videos!!
I need to get a leveler
I was just using my extension ladder yesterday to get on the 12' roof of my shop. I had a heck of a time getting the feet level and secure on the uneven dirt. I'm going to get both of these products before the next time I need that ladder.
I wonder why the manufacturer didn't attach the keeper pin to the moveable part instead of having one affixed to each leg of the ladder.
The good ol affiliate link ad video." Buy this so I can get paid". 👍
One tiny point about hand position when climbing a ladder.
Usually you are doing it wrong! ..... Me too! ...... Because we climb it to do something and usually we need to carry something up so we are at least half a hand down! 3 points of contact no longer works!. With this in mind, my preferred method is to use the side not the rungs. An additional benefit of this is that you are kinetically aware of the change from single rung to double, then back again! This Should not make a difference ..... but it does! That little shock when you are in mid air and your foot does not connect exactly where you expect it to can take your mind of more important things!
As I said a tiny point ...... but sometimes tiny things can make a difference!
Thanks 👍
Great job. Thank you 😊
A head scar is basically proof of (1) living a long life and (2) getting stuff done. I don't know any elder-aged hard workers that don't have a battle wound somewhere on their head. Earned mine a few years ago. Lucky enough to have hair that still covers it.
As I get older... and a bit more cautious... I find I do have a problem with transitioning from a ladder to the roof and back. My Werner rep told me about their X300000 "Walk Through" extensions for the top of the ladder. I really wish you had covered those. For safety and ease of transition, anyone who has to go on roofs should look into them. They make getting on and off a roof simple. No need for the side step, reach around. But it does mean you have to have the right ladder for the job. And fortunately, the X300000s do come off and transfer quite easily ladder to ladder.
Really appreciate!
At 63, I swear the ladders are getting heavier! Ladders "get mean" to us as we age!
Ouch ! I’ve seen many a bathroom fall end people. Be careful!!
It must be great to own an aluminum extension ladder. I inherited a 32 foot wooden ladder that was new back in the 1960's. I don't know it's exact weight, but is very tough for my 75 year old body to raise and move.
I bought a used fiberglass extension ladder that is very heavy. I use my tractors forks to move the ladder around to each side of the shop. It is a bit sketchy but it has not fallen to the side, yet. I narrow the forks just enough to fit between the rungs and lever it up. I sometimes put the front tractor bar against the ladder to prevent front slippage.