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JOB 10-22-2012 04:05:59 74.36.133.184 Report to Moderator	The fascia board on the gable end of my house needs some attention and I am having a little trouble getting up there. I have a two foot overhang on the gable ends and a three foot on the eves. It is 22 feet from the peak of the gable end to the ground with a 4/12 pitch. And no I do not have safe way or an all terrain lift or pump jacks to get up there. I am wanting to use two ladders and a plank to do the job. Ladder stabilizers will get the ladder away from the house a shy foot so that would help but I would like it out a little farther. Any one have any ideas? [Reply]   [No Email]
big fred 10-23-2012 08:47:08 97.113.22.151 Report to Moderator	Re: Ladder reach question in reply to JOB, 10-22-2012 04:05:59   I just did that job this summer, and I also have a 2 ft overhang. I used one ladder with stabilizers. I had to move it a few times, but it was not a big deal to do so. I found some aluminum tube that was a snug fit inside the square tubes of the stablilizer, and that got me a little farther away from the house. [Reply]  [No Email]
Pops1532 10-22-2012 19:54:56 98.227.131.18 Report to Moderator	Re: Ladder reach question in reply to JOB, 10-22-2012 04:05:59   I picked up a pair of used aluminum ladder jacks that have much longer arms than the standard jacks. They are close to twice as long. I'm sure if you could find a set of those, they'd get you out far enough to replace your rake board. What are you using for a plank? If you have access to an aluminum stage life will be much easier. I've worked off a bunch of 2X10's and 2X12's for over 30 years without ever having a problem. If you're using a 2X10 or 12 just make sure it doesn't have any big knots, and don't use too long of a span. [Reply]  [No Email]
JOB 10-23-2012 04:07:43 74.36.133.184 Report to Moderator	Re: Ladder reach question in reply to Pops1532, 10-22-2012 19:54:56   I am using a 14 inch wide 20 foot Louisville aluminum plank rated at 500 lbs of load. All of my ladders are type 1A. The ladder jacks I have are stinson with the short arm to rest the plank on. I do have one jack with the longer arm that I bought off craigslist. You are right a pair of those would do the job. When I get done with this end of the house I will look for a couple more of the long armed jacks. Using that long arm jack is a good suggestion, Thanks. [Reply]  [No Email]
Brad Buchanan 10-22-2012 19:35:08 74.71.185.165 Report to Moderator	Re: Ladder reach question in reply to JOB, 10-22-2012 04:05:59   If you do actually use the ladders and plank use the proper brackets and use a REAL SCAFFOLD PLANK! The best ones are laminated and are marked OSHA SCAFFOLD PLANK. A 2x8 from the local lumberyard is not a substitute. Be safe, Brad [Reply]  [No Email]
JOB 10-23-2012 04:20:06 74.36.133.184 Report to Moderator	Re: Ladder reach question in reply to Brad Buchanan, 10-22-2012 19:35:08   I don't think a scaffold plank will work on ladder jacks. I use an OSHA approved aluminum plank where possible. I do use a 10 foot 2x10 for short runs and that does not sag much when I am on it. I don't want to take a tumble. I knew an 18 year old that fell 8 feet out of a loader bucket and was killed. [Reply]  [No Email]
Brad Buchanan 10-23-2012 12:39:15 74.71.185.165 Report to Moderator	Re: Ladder reach question in reply to JOB, 10-23-2012 04:20:06   Aluminum planks are great for safety and convenience. Unfortunately for me the work I was doing required standing for a fairly long clip and for whatever reason they made my feet and knees hurt. As for wooden planks I really don't think that the laminated planks are that much stronger but they will 'talk to you' if overstressed and not fail with one resounding crack! Brad [Reply]  [No Email]
ohiojeff 10-22-2012 14:08:52 71.74.153.93 Report to Moderator	Re: Ladder reach question in reply to JOB, 10-22-2012 04:05:59   tree service down the road changed light bulb in mercury light for us for free with their bucket truck. [Reply]  [No Email]
Bill in IL 10-22-2012 11:20:53 132.3.49.68 Report to Moderator	Re: Ladder reach question in reply to JOB, 10-22-2012 04:05:59   A 30 foot tow behind basket type man lift would be pretty cheap for something like that. Probably rent for 150 a day or so. [Reply]  [No Email]
ss55 10-22-2012 10:42:47 50.81.68.105 Report to Moderator	Re: Ladder reach question in reply to JOB, 10-22-2012 04:05:59   Get some quotes from contractors to do the job for you. You may be surprised how low the price difference is. If you do the job youself, prime and pre-paint as much as you can on the ground ahead of time. That way you only have to paint the nail heads when you are in the air. [Reply]  [No Email]
tomturkey 10-22-2012 08:36:14 216.81.211.253 Report to Moderator	Re: Ladder reach question in reply to JOB, 10-22-2012 04:05:59   The rent on the correct equip to do the job is a lot cheaper than a hospital tour. Said by the guy thats always been cheap, but getting older and scared a lot easier. gobble [Reply]  [No Email]
Dick2 10-22-2012 06:05:25 174.19.205.113 Report to Moderator	Re: Ladder reach question in reply to JOB, 10-22-2012 04:05:59   Is there anyone around with a bucket truck that you could hire for an hour? Or two? It may be costly, but so is getting severely injured or killed. This operation is too risky to go cheap. [Reply]  [No Email]
dave2 10-22-2012 04:44:22 139.139.35.17 Report to Moderator	Re: Ladder reach question in reply to JOB, 10-22-2012 04:05:59   First thing I would do is get an eyebolt strong enough to hold twice your weight in the point of the gable somehow then a rope and harness (just don't put it around your neck)... Then a pair of ladder jacks and the plank... Scaffolding would be the safest if you set it up right and anchor it to the house. Good luck. Or, maybe get your stuff all ready and catch the telephone guys in the neighborhood with the basket truck.... [Reply]  [No Email]
JOB 10-22-2012 18:54:13 74.36.133.184 Report to Moderator	Re: Ladder reach question in reply to dave2, 10-22-2012 04:44:22   You can't get a truck in close enough because of the terrain and the trees. I will set up the ladders and plank and see how sturdy it is. And you are right a harness should be used. [Reply]  [No Email]
Pops1532 10-22-2012 04:44:03 98.227.131.18 Report to Moderator	Re: Ladder reach question in reply to JOB, 10-22-2012 04:05:59   If you have aluminum ladder jacks you can use them on the outside of the ladders. If you have the old fashioned finger pinching steel ladder jacks scrap them and buy a set of aluminum ones. With the ladder and plank on the outside of the ladders I'm not sure you'll need the stabilizers. With the plank set up on the outside you'll either need to climb over it which gets kind of harry or you'll need a third ladder to set up over or next to your plank. I strongly suggest using the third ladder. It's much safer than crawling over the walk board. Place the third ladder on the fascia on the side you're not working on. [Reply]  [No Email]
JOB 10-22-2012 18:41:22 74.36.133.184 Report to Moderator	Re: Ladder reach question in reply to Pops1532, 10-22-2012 04:44:03   That is what I have now is the aluminum ladder jacks. They did not get the plank out quite far enough. It looks like I might have to use the stabilizers. I do use the third ladder, it is a lot easier than crawling over that plank. I am kicking around the idea of making a set of stabilizers that will get me out far enough. I saw one years ago that the man who used it liked it better than the store bought ones. But I need this fascia done before winter sets in. Thanks for the suggestions, looks like we were on the same page. [Reply]  [No Email]
Frankmn 10-22-2012 04:43:10 184.7.172.39 Report to Moderator	Re: Ladder reach question in reply to JOB, 10-22-2012 04:05:59   LADDER BRACKETS can usually be rented. They will work fine [Reply]  [No Email]
Zachary Hoyt 10-22-2012 04:37:26 184.12.70.70 Report to Moderator	Re: Ladder reach question in reply to JOB, 10-22-2012 04:05:59   If you have the kind of brackets that will do it you can put the plank outside the ladders, that is what I did when we were working on the house here. Zach [Reply]  [No Email]
kevinj54 10-22-2012 04:28:05 99.39.189.166 Report to Moderator	Re: Ladder reach question in reply to Billy NY, 10-22-2012 04:05:59   Scaffold rent around here is real inexpensive. [Reply]  [No Email]