Roof Repairing Tips - Working Off the Ground

When repairing a roof or decorating -either the inside or outside of a house -you need equipment for gaining access to the areas you want to work on Outside, if you have a long job to tackle you might consider erecting scaffolding. But for other jobs you will probably use either an extension ladder or a platform tower or, inside, a step-ladder.

Step-ladders
Painting a ceiling by standing on the floor and using a roller fitted with an extension handle is safe but very tiring. By getting yourself off the ground say 600mm or so - the job should become much less strenuous. A step-ladder allows you to stand at various heights without ever needing to over-stretch. There are three main types:

o platform step-ladders which generally have five or more steps and are over a metre or so high with a large working platform as the top step. These are generally all wood or aluminium
o swing-over step-ladders with a tubular steel frame which rotates about a hinge to convert the steps into a straight ladder. One half has steel rungs; the other wooden treads
o three-way ladders, made from aluminium, which can be used as a step-ladder, a straight ladder or stair ladder

You may also find traditional wooden 'decorators'' ladders with no platform (the top step is not meant for standing on) and smaller aluminium ladders with just a couple of steps.

Platform step-ladders are fairly easy to put up but convertible ones are more tricky - when they are extended the catch holding the top section of the ladder in place should be checked to make sure it is engaged, and the ladder must be put up the right way round.

When choosing a platform step-ladder, look for one which has a good guard rail which does not interfere with you standing on the platform. Choose a ladder without any obvious finger-traps and one with wide, flat comfortable treads.

Roof Repair Los Angeles CA