Replies

1. 
   gdavis62 | Feb 10, 2005 06:47pm | #1

   If you have good rental yards in your area, see if one of them can help you out.

   The Little Giant ladder and its various clones (Gorilla, etc.) are often praised for their usefullness in stairway situations.

1. 
   PenobscotMan | Mar 21, 2005 08:33pm | #11

   Thanks for the tip.  I ended up buying a Gorilla at HD.  Werner makes a similar ladder (I see it in their catalog) but none of my local professional-type ladder and supply shops carried it.  They could order it, but it would take 2-3 weeks, etc.  I truly hate HD, but it has its uses.

   I like the Gorilla.  It's heavy (they claim it's a Type 1A), but it does the trick.  Made in China, and some of the welds are pretty rough looking.  However, if I fall, it will be only for a few feet!

1. 
   sandalboy | Mar 21, 2005 09:53pm | #12

   I recently bought a Little Giant fiberglass ladder, 22 foot model.  I love it.  It was expensive, $500, but it is the sturdiest ladder I've ever used.  It is rated 1A, but is feels much more stable than my Werner fiberglass 1A extension ladder, when they are extended the same length.  I finally decided to buy it after taking another ladder fall victim to the trauma center.  I am a paramedic by trade, and see these kind of falls often enough to see the value of stability while on a ladder.  When used as an A frame ladder it is nice to be able to climb up either side rather than turning it around.  It is only a little heavier than an equivalent ordinary ladder the same height.  It only feels really heavy when you have it in the shortened lenth mode and compare it to a short ladder.  I have only had it a few months now, and have not needed to use it on stairs yet so I can't comment on that.  My only complaint is trying to fold it when it is extended. It is hard since you can't reach the pivot.  You either need to collape it or tip it to the side.  Superstitious people may not like it either as it is quite easy to walk under due to lack of center brace. I like this as it is easy to get past in tight areas without moving it.  It is made in USA, as are all Little Giant ladders, if that matters to you.

2. 
   MaineWoods | Feb 10, 2005 06:51pm | #2

   Not the same thing as you're talking about, I think, but I recently used one of those Gorilla multi-position ladders working on the stairway in my house. It didn't quite reach the upper tread of the stairway, but it got me up enough that I could reach much of the ceiling of the stairwell. I laid some planks across the rungs to make a safer platform. They say they'll hold up to 300lbs in any position. Worked well enough for me, though I'd want better if I were a pro.

   Enjoy,
   -Sean

3. 
   Shoeman | Feb 10, 2005 07:14pm | #3

   A little Giant is the answer - and you will use it for many other things as well.

4. 
   SeattleStair | Feb 10, 2005 07:57pm | #4

   You can also build a sturdy box that sits on the lower tread where your ladder leg will be. Make sure the ladder leg is as close to the riser as possible, i.e., not out at the nose of the tread. We call ours "the elevator" and "the two-step"

   -Andy

   Seattle Stair & Design
   

   3810 4th Ave. S.
   Seattle, Washington 98134
   http://www.seattlestair.com

    

5. 
   ClaysWorld | Feb 10, 2005 09:16pm | #5

   Top down- so I start with extension ladder at lower end of stairwell wall and stage planks off from there, if the stair well to ceiling height is much sometimes have to use second ladder at switch back. I've got a 16' little giant type but lots of times I just have to fall back to the above technique.

1. 
   stonefever | Feb 11, 2005 07:14am | #6

   Haven't you's guys seen a good combination ladder?

   It can be a stepladder, an extension ladder or a uneven stepladder where one side is longer than the other.  It works great on stairs.  They come in 6', 7' 8' and I believe 10' versions.

   You'd be up and done by the time you got these scaffold variations set up.

    

1. 
   nikkiwood | Feb 11, 2005 08:35am | #7

   Here is the ladder, I think, that stonefever was referring to, made by Werner:http://tinyurl.com/57q7xI have had one for years, and it is very useful in a variety of applications -- as a step ladder, an extension ladder, and for work on stairways. However, I have also used one of the Little Giants, and I think they are even better for stairs. However, they're expensive -- and heavy.

   Edited 2/11/2005 12:37 am ET by nikkiwood

1. 
   stonefever | Feb 11, 2005 04:29pm | #8

   Yes, that's it.  I got me a 8 footer.  Had to go find the big commercial ladder dealer downtown Denver to get it.  But when you have slopes, stairs, or practically any different level, these are nice.

   It was something like $175.

    

1. 
   zendo | Feb 11, 2005 07:08pm | #9

   Ok, I would agree with the giant, but some other options,

   You can hike up one side of a sheetrockers stage to the stair height.

   and a bad one- if there is an exterior door at the bottom of the stair, swing it all the way open and block underneath.  Rest planks on top of the door. 

    I hate heights, but Ive seen some finish carpenters span 90 degree planks from the top of the stair to an upright 2x10 across the width of the room to the exterior wall.  Crazy to me but the guy didnt think a thing of it.

2. 
   ClaysWorld | Feb 11, 2005 07:44pm | #10

   Owww I like that open door one.

6. 
   Mongo | Mar 21, 2005 10:26pm | #13

   I had two Little Giants since...I'll guess and say I got them in the late 80's.

   22-footers, great ladders. One disappeared last year, replaced it with a Gorilla.

   Comparatively, they both do essentially the same thing. I do, however, prefer the mechanics of the Little Giant (how it slides/adjusts, etc) over the Gorilla, but I like the lock/unlock puch knobs on the Gorilla compared to the pulls on the Little Giant.