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I used to think a 12-foot ladder was fine for most jobs until I had to replace a gutter on a 2-story colonial in Annapolis last fall.
That extra 4 feet on a 16-footer made the whole job safer and three times faster. Anyone else have a tool they finally upgraded after a specific job proved they needed it?
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lopez.emery7mo ago
Annapolis has some tall colonials for sure. A 16-foot ladder is actually the minimum safe working height for a standard two-story gutter, so you were right to upgrade.
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the_lisa6mo ago
Did he ever say if his insurance covered the doctor visit?
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iris9277mo ago
My buddy learned that lesson the hard way last fall. He tried to clean his gutters with a ladder that was way too short, had to really stretch. Slipped off the last rung and twisted his ankle so bad he was on the couch for a week. The doctor said he was lucky it wasn't his back. Ever since then he preaches about getting the right size ladder, no question. It's just not worth the risk trying to make do.
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the_alice6mo ago
Honestly just rent a tall ladder from the hardware store. Costs like thirty bucks for the day and saves you a trip to urgent care.
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the_simon7mo ago
Yeah, the part about being lucky it wasn't his back really hits home. I read a safety report that said most serious home ladder injuries aren't from huge falls, but from short slips where people land wrong. They try to stretch or lean too far and just lose balance from a few feet up. That's how you get broken wrists or messed up knees. Your buddy's story is exactly why that report said to always have your belt buckle between the ladder rails, so you can't overreach. Makes you double check your own habits, doesn't it?
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