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Exterior painting requires much work and cannot be quickly done by yourself, especially with all the precautionary measures surrounding it. Hiring professional painters is always recommended when planning to paint outside the home. One of the most crucial things to consider is working on ladders.
Hiring a professional painter is a good idea as painting at heights can be frightening. The job can be dangerous, requiring expertise with ladders. In most cases, painters have a harness system and should have calm nerves. But if you decide to take on this endeavor alone, there are crucial criteria you should be aware of to succeed and avoid ending up in the hospital.
Safety Tips When Working On Exterior Painting Ladder
1. Make sure you are in good condition.
Never climb a ladder when feeling weak, lightheaded, or drunk. If you try to use a ladder while you are not in good physical and mental health, your chances of ending up in the emergency room at the hospital are substantially higher. If you’re not feeling well, do not take the opportunity. Postpone climbing the ladder until another day.
2. Wear the proper gear/protect the surface
Don’t wear your flip-flops. It’s vital to wear work boots or sneakers with a good, non-slip grip. If your foot slips on a rung, you will likely fall. Also, extension ladders are typically made of aluminum, which has sharp edges and may easily damage siding and other surfaces. Make sure your rails’ upper ends are suitably enclosed in a covering for protection.
3. Choose the best exterior painting ladder.
Use a ladder that is the proper shape and size for the job. An extension ladder will be needed for roof repair, but smaller equipment can be used to replace the porch light bulb. Always check that the ladder’s height is suitable for the project. Additionally, verifying that the ladder can hold your weight is necessary.
Purchase the proper equipment, which includes acquiring a commercial-grade ladder that is fully functional. You need a ladder to work correctly, so don’t just borrow any old one. Ladders are graded as Grade 3, 2, 1, and 1A, indicating increasing durability (1A being the highest, rated for 300 pounds and industrial use).
- When operating more than 20 feet above the ground, it is not recommended to use Grade 3 ladders because they can be pretty narrow.
- Grade 1A ladders are highly rigid but heavy, posing a safety risk when moving the ladder.
- Most of the time, Grade 2 is best for painting because it is sturdy, has a weight rating of 225 pounds, and is light enough to move around securely.
4. Maintain a level surface.
Set up the ladder in a stable, level area. The likelihood of the ladder falling is substantially higher if the ground is weak or rocky. Additionally, it’s crucial to ensure that an extension ladder’s top resting point is against a flat, solid surface. The ladder will be safer if it is more sturdy.
You can also use ladder stabilizers to position the ladder on the roof if you have some challenging spots to access, like a dormer over the roofline. They provide that additional space over the gutters so that you may set up a ladder a few feet up the roof. The ladder arms are beneficial for working on or around windows because they may be safely rested on either side.
Remember: Always keep three-point contact—two feet and one hand or two hands and one foot—at all times.
5. Consider the weather.
Avoid using a ladder near electrical wires and during wind or rainstorms. These situations pose unnecessary risks, making ladder use dangerous. Hence, they must be avoided at all costs. Work while it is not overly windy. The wind can be powerful at 30 feet above the ground, which is enough to make you unsteady.
Are you still unsure if you can do a DIY exterior painting using a ladder? Reach out to professional painters!
If you are still uncertain about working with ladders, it is better to contact professional painters and ask for their help. If you are in the Cleveland area, reach out to The Picky Painters. The painting company assures you of a high-quality exterior painting job. Contact us at (216) 403-2545 or email joe@thepickypainters.com.
Check out our exterior painting projects:
Here’s a quick small Exterior Painting Project that we completed in North Olmsted, Ohio. We pressure washed the brick to ensure we removed very loose material and got a good bond with a specialty brick product.
We updated the exterior trim on this home in North Ridgeville, Ohio. The house needed some fresh color after fading over the past decade. Dark colors tend to fade more than light colors. We also completed some Interior Painting work when we were here for the Exterior Painting project.
Know more about us: https://thepickypainters.com/
