Ladder for gutters

coolaboola1357 · 07-11-2022 11:34am #1

Hi All

I live in a large two story house that has several trees at the back of the house. These trees generate a lot of leaves and my gutters get jammed up a few times throughout the year. Currently i get someone in to clean them out twice a year but in all honestly they should be done more than that. I got them done a month ago and i can see that some are blocked already again. So i was wondering what sized ladder would i need to do this job, would a double extension suffice ? Also how can i make this as safe as possible, use a standoff ? leg stabiliser ? I dont like ladders but i dont see a way around not doing this myself, how can i make it as safe as possible ?

Thanks for any help

jack of all · 07-11-2022 11:53am

I use a stand-off attachment for the top of my ladder and a 25litre plastic jerry can filled with water at the foot of the ladder, very stable and makes gutter cleaning safe and easy. Also I use a plastic gutter cleaning tool that screws onto a window cleaning pole. This saves moving the ladder so much when cleaning gutters and speeds up the task no end. Think I bought the gutter attachment in Screwfix, under a tenner if I recall.

Muas Tenek · 07-11-2022 12:34pm

A double extension would do but I prefer a triple extension as it is more rigid and flexes less while climbing/descending.

Using a standoff is good as you don't want to warp or deform the guttering and when cleaning guttering it is a lot easier if you go above them.

Always have someone "foot" the ladder while you are on it (one foot on ground the other on the bottom rung and holding the rails). They will stabilize the ladder and also can see things that you may not see (especially when coming down). Stabilizers are not a replacement for this.

Use the 1 to four rule - 1 foot out for every 4 feet up. Too little and you will be unbalanced at the top and too far out and the ladder may slip away.

Don't over reach, keep your body central to the ladder, if you need to go further - move the ladder.

Also you could consider fitting gutter guards while you are up there. It takes a while to do but saves lots of time in the long term. Also consider investing in a tool belt if you don't have one, saves a lot of climbing.

johntune · 07-11-2022 12:40pm

https://www.woodies.ie/gutterbrush-black-4m-x-100mm-1168926?gclid=CjwKCAiA9qKbBhAzEiwAS4yeDahOfyB8VaZMgrptiMm_CR8OFYzKzLLz4hntf7J2rFmpbT6D75d1EhoCh9YQAvD_BwE

Stick something like this in them. I did it 10 years ago and haven't needed to go near them since.

Stigura · 07-11-2022 12:40pm

Damnit! Now ye've gone and reminded me; I saw some crafty vegetation poking out of my own gutters, the other day. Pissing it down, as I type. But, that's what rain proofs are for 😒

I too have a ladder stand off. What Lunatic would approach a gutter clean out without one? Spring clipped. No nuts and bolts. Off and on in a moment. Mine stays on becase, why not?

Kind member on here ~ whose handle I've since lost ~ pointed out the ones with a 'V' in them, rather than a straight '_'. God send! Get to that corner down pipe and see.

Bottom end? Various things out there. I live in a sloping field. My life just gets 'interesting'. But, the wider grip of that stand off sure helps.

What about these 'Gutter Hedgehog' things? Long brushes ye leave in there. Been meaning to get some for years. (Damn! I'd missed John Tune's post! Yes!)

Anyway; I'm just stepping outside .....

coolaboola1357 · 07-11-2022 12:59pm

thanks all. would be it be possible to move around a double extension by myself ?

GreeBo · 07-11-2022 4:27pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119844845#Comment_119844845

Yep, they are not too bad.

However if you can get one that uses a rope to extend while already against the wall.

Opening it on the ground and then trying to offer it up to a wall at 4.5M isn't a bunch of fun.

coolaboola1357 · 07-11-2022 6:12pm

Thanks. Can you provide a link to one of these rope ones ?

coolaboola1357 · 07-11-2022 6:50pm

What size should I get ? Can it be stored outside ?

coolaboola1357 · 08-11-2022 11:17am

Would it be possible to buy a scaffolding ledge to do them, I don't think I'd be comfortable on the ladder

GreeBo · 08-11-2022 12:11pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119846358#Comment_119846358

https://www.ladders.ie/products/heavydutyextensionladder/

These guys do them (no affiliation!) and they also do standoffs and stabilizers it seems.

They are aluminium so wont rust, but you might have issues with the rope side of things (though I assume they are nylon)

A scaffold tower is a lot more expensive and unwieldy to setup and store, far easier to just get someone to install the leaf guards.

https://scafftex.ie/shop/aluminium-towers/instant-upright-tower-2-rung-1m-frame-sw/

Stigura · 08-11-2022 1:53pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119844845#Comment_119844845

'Folded' down? Sure. Take ye time. NEVER put ye arm through the rungs. Wrap an arm Round it. Take a minute to look up and around for overhead wires before ye do anything.

And, obviously; Do None of that in a blow 😐️

Bricriu · 08-11-2022 4:41pm

I don't like heights either, and have heard too many stories of ladders slipping, so here is my safe solution and I have used it again and again:

Get stainless-steel strong hooks at least 4" long, drill holes in wall at both ends; use rawl-plugs and screw in hooks tightly and fully.

When using ladder, tie good strong cloth ropes (not nylon - danger of knots slipping) to both hooks, position ladder where you want to start cleaning, grab the ends of the two ropes and bring them with you as you climb ladder. Tie them tightly to both sides of ladder four rungs from top of ladder, with rope leading over outside of sides of ladder over to hooks. Ropes should be taut.

Untie and retie as you move the ladder along work area.

Obviously use recommendations in other messages above to secure foot of ladder as well.

RainInSummer · 08-11-2022 4:44pm

I got something like this that does corners too:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Nicoone-Aluminium-Removable-Stabilizer-Difficult/dp/B0BG7DFJXS/

Was about 5 years back and I paid no where near that price, like high £20's from memory, most likely a different model too. Great for gutters.

Stigura · 09-11-2022 5:18pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119850014#Comment_119850014

That's the one! 😁 Was using mine only yesterday!

But, christ! Haven't they gone up in price though?! 😲 I remember paying That much for my roof hooks. Thought at the time, " God, That f***ing hurt! ". And that was Donkeys ago. Stander was much cheaper.

Wouldn't go up a roof any more. Deafness born of age. Destroys all sense of balance. Okay with up and downs though 😐️ But, yeah; Stand Off? Why on earth Wouldn't ye use one? Seems mad that people don't.