40 Ft Ladder..... Lost my Nerve

[scott_vt]

Good Evenin Guys,
Well everyone is probablly wondering why I havent done much on my plow rebuild project, but I have been sidelined on trying to keep up with all the house chores !

A little history for everyone, I built the Ct house in 1982. After I first built it I would stain the whole house every 4 yrs. Then I started to feel a bit old these past few years and started staining one side every year ! This has worked out quite well but this year on the west side getting all the way up on my 40 ft ladder I just didnt feel comfortable ! Im 56 and in good health, 5 ft 10" by 180 lbs and can still walk 10 miles in the woods, so not too overweight ! I have obviously lost my nerve, I did for the record get the peak done but not without holding on for dear life ! I have been doing this job forever but I think my days are numbered doing this job much longer ! Talking with my buddy who works part time at HD today, he informed me that HD no longer carries a 40 ft ladder Gee that made me feel good !

So just thought I would let everyone know that Im still with the ranks of the living, and perserved through this project to the end ! Anyone else out there have this acquired fobia ? Never seemed to bother me in the past but somethin just changed !

 

[WayneB]

Scotty, you seem to have a bit more room with the ladder to raise it up to get to the peak, although I am sure you have already done that.

I know the feeling as I have one section of our house that is like that, three stories high and I just don't have what it takes to climb up there and finish the job. Needs to be done so it is up the ladder soon.

Your stain looks great by the way.

Wayne

 

[DieselPower]

Have you considered renting one of those powered handy lifts from a rental center. Saves all the walking up and down a ladder and make for a nice work platform.

You would be welcome to come over to my house and climb my 140 foot HAM antenna tower for practice if you like. I had to climb it early last year and install a new antenna. I forgot how much those things sway in the wind.

 

[TC29-dude]

I grew up near an old flooded quarry that had 65' cliffs and 80' deep water.
I used to run off that cliff and feel like I was flying! It was a blast.

Fast forward 25 years...I can't get near the edge of the thing without getting the willies. Maybe the common sense gene finally kicked in.

 

[Lloyd_E]

Hey Scott,

You have my curse. Is that benjamine moore red barn opaque stain? We did our house with it and every 5 years I restain. It fades to a pretty pink. I use a sprayer now - a lot faster. Don't like the gable peaks any more. And to think, in my youngr days I used to like rock/cliff climbing.

Lloyd

 

[TBDonnelly]

Scottie,

I think your supposed to take the German Pain Killer after the work, not before.

I have a wood 40 foot ladder that was given to me. Only been on it once. Does that ladder have some bounce to it.

Don

 

[Ductape]

Scotty..... i feel your pain. I think my knuckles are still sore from clinging to the top of my forty footer LAST summer. I still couldn't get everything, and had to attach my paintbrush to a stick and swing that around up there. I'm now painting my sister's house. I made them rent a lift from the Depot. Much more expensive than just pulling out a ladder you already own, but IMO, much safer. Even the lift is a bit spooky when being up three + stories, but you get used to the swaying.

 

[Double Orange]

Scott, Been There!! The good news is ...take it apart and you have.... His and Hers ...20 footers!!
Who says we don't think of our wives!!

P.S. Ladders make terrible anniversary presents to the wives!! Trust me on that one!!

 

[RobertN]

I have obviously lost my nerve, I did for the record get the peak done but not without holding on for dear life ! I have been doing this job forever but I think my days are numbered doing this job much longer !

I have found I do not like most ladders now. The ones on our Engines are pretty stout; most homeowner ladders, unless the really expensive ones, aint as stout. We did a 50' ladder a couple years ago on training. It was kinda spooky going up there, especially in full gear. Then we locked our leg in, let go with our hands, and leaned waaay back. That was a bit nervy, even though we had four people stabilizing the ladder, plus it had extra support poles to the side.

We're talking about brining the 110' ladder truck from another station in our district, for training soon. Our full-time Captian talked about us volunteers climbing the whole ladder, and flowing water. He said when you're up there, and turn the nozzle on, it moves the ladder 4-6'. When you turn it off, or go to a wide fog pattern, it moves back 4-6'. I dunno... I am guessing we'll all do it; the city guys spend hours up there sometimes on big fires...

If I go up a ladder, it better be a good stout one

 

[Cottonhawk]

Scotty,
If it does not feel safe it is not safe!
Injuries are something none of us can afford to have. If you must get up there to finish the job, I think that the lift rental is much less expensive than hospital bills.
Please stay safe.

 

[3RRL]

Scottie,
I can relate to your feelings about losing your nerves. I'm 57 and don't have the guts to do what I used to. I'm still in real good shape, but feel like a wimpy old man. It's like I'm getting old or something?

 

[hazmat]

At least the ladder truck has sides on it & if you crouch you are "contained".

I volunteered in college, we had a 75' stick. It was very weird being on the end with it up in the air. A gust of wind would move you around, never mind flowing water.

 

[riptides]

Don't feel bad.

I do not like climbing ladders anymore either. It hit me a month or so ago when I tried to get to the gutters on my second floor. Just felt wrong.

Had two buddies both with ladder accidents over the years. One took a chunk of bone out of his elbow, the other suffered brain damage. Both were a lot more experienced than I.

Enough said. If you don't feel good doing it, don't. A hospital bill is a lot more expensive than a rent-a-lift. Dead, no worries on your part. But what about your family and friends.

-Mike Z.

 

[RobS]

Well, now I don't feel so bad Scotty. I'm an avid bicyclist and used to be able to fly down the hills at 50+ mph but in the last year or so I've basically lost my nerve to do that. I'll be on the brakes keeping it under 30 nowadays. Still love riding but not the fast downhills.

I would agree with the others, get one of those lifts. You can even make it a tractor project by using your tractor to tow it into place.

 

[scott_vt]

Mornin Guys,
Thanks for the replies !

Wayne, Im about 28 ft off the ground at the peak so there was a bit more ladder to raise but it was still way higher than I wanted to go !

DieselPower,no thanks on the Ham antenna, although I was WA1HLP in my prevuous life, I used to climb these huge trees to get my dipoles up higher many years ago !

TC29, yep common sense is starting to take over !

Lloyd,the stain is Woodsman brand WSO-24 solid color Barn Red oil base, I get it at True Value up in Granville, Ny just over the Vt border, its very nice stain IMO !

Don, only one shot of German Pain Killer before going up the ladder !

Ductape, Im thinking lift truck the next time !

Double Orange, the wife would never forgive me iif I pulled that stunt !

RobertN, actually that ladder is fairly heavy duty, when I was younger I used to climb the 100 ft stick that the down town company used !

Cotton, your right Im planning on using a lift next time !

Rob 3RRL, yeah this old thing just happened overnight, I dont like it either !

Haz, I concur a lift with platform is the way to go, my days of swinging off the side of the ladder on one leg are over !

MikeZ, I cant afford any brain damage, for obvious reasons !

RobS, I fully understand the 30 mph down hill runs, your getting my symptoms now !

The good news is next year I get to do the back of the house, so not up too high, dont even use that ladder !

 

[WayneB]

Scotty know the feeling..............wb1gwh here, not active right now but will be one of these days. That's right a b in the call letters, that's what you get when you move from a w2 area and the call letter guy doesn't like ya! Oh, and by the way 61 here and I still don't like ladders!

 

[KubotaSteve]

I hate heights with a passion which is why I have a rancher, but I did have to have a walk-out basement (thank God for vinyl siding!!). I am good up to about 8 feet height an that is it. I bought a 20' aluminum ladder from Lowes to use around the house. I got on it one time and got back off in a hurry. My dad traded me a 24' heavy duty fiberglass one for the lightweight 20' aluminum one. He said I needed something heavier because I was almost at the weight limit of the ladder without any tools. I kindly told him my 205 lbs. would stay on the ground and I would hold the ladder while he climbed it.
I have never been on my house roof and I've owned the house for 5 years. It varies in height from the ground from about 12' at the lowest edge on the overhang at the one end of the house to about 23' at the peak on the walk out basement end.
I will never loose my nerve for heights because I never had any .

 

[jinman]

Scotty, I'd consider a ladder everywhere but the south end of my house (pictured). I've rented a manlift once - expensive but easiest to use. I'm also considering scaffolding with large inflatable tires.

I've also been doing one side of my house per year and the front side with the decks is my favorite.

 

[4sarge]

I'm in the same boat with the 40' ladder and maintenance. Bought a retirement home that needs the logs sealed on a regular basis Did the complete cabin the 1st year and then realized what I had gotten myself into. Must have been loony but it looks nice Great idea to do 1 side a year and I'll start that procedure for next year.

I also have the dreaded walk out basement which adds the extreme height on one end requiring the 40" ladder

 

[scott_vt]

Scotty,

I've also been doing one side of my house per year and the front side with the decks is my favorite.

Afternoon Jim,
Hmmm, guess you must be up there in years too ? Nice lookin place you got there !

BTW wheres your grass ?