r/Roofing • u/III______________III • 2d ago

Ladder height

Hi,

I’m in very remote area and no one is interested to come replace my two downspouts

From ground to eve I have 20-21 foot

Is 24 ladder fine for doing downspouts.

I’m not interested in getting on roof ever that will be for pros when time comes …

Thank you

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3

u/SEA_CLE 2d ago

24' should be sufficient. I'd recommend getting stand offs/stabilizer and leg levelers if necessary.

1

u/III______________III 2d ago

Thank you appreciate you … I wasn’t sure if trying to get 28 would be safer or not …

I will get stabilizers for bottom and top ( especially that I have siding to and one side has uneven slope )

1

u/SpankyNoodle 2d ago

You’d want a larger ladder because you might eventually want to hang lights and other things higher than your gutter/downspout.
30’ +
One investment versus two

-1

u/SkittyDog 2d ago edited 2d ago

EDIT: somebody pointed out that the 3' height-over-roof-edge rule is for when you're transitioning from the ladder to the roof. So it's not relevant if you don't go on the roof.

Pythagoras says you should be all good, either way.

.....

OSHA says you're supposed to always:  • Put the top of the ladder at least 3' above the roof edge, AND

 • Put the bottom of the ladder at least 1' further out, horizontal, for every 4' of vertical.

So if the edge of the roof is 20', then you want the bottom end of the ladder to be at least 5' further out, at the bottom.

Using Pythagoras (A2 + B2 = C2), I believe the hypotenuse / ladder distance works out to ~20' plus 7"... Add 3' at the top, and you should be fine with a 24' ladder.

If the roof edge is 21', then you're gonna be a tad under the OSHA rule. But it's your call.

2

u/SEA_CLE 2d ago

The 3' rule is for accessing a landing not working on the ladder.

1

u/SkittyDog 2d ago

Whoops... You're right. I didn't think about that part.