Important Things to Know About Ladder Safety

Cleaning your gutters is one of the most important home maintenance to complete. Clogged, overflowing gutters can cause water damage to many parts of your home including your roof, siding, landscaping and foundation. Gutter cleaning can save you significant amounts of money on repair costs. Unfortunately, this home maintenance task can be difficult. You’ll need to climb up a ladder, scrape out the leaves and debris from your gutters, wait a few months, and do it again.

This task is very risky if you don’t know the basics of ladder safety. That’s why as the top gutter contractor in Dewitt, NY, we strongly recommend leaving this chore to the professionals, who have the equipment and training to complete this task safely and quickly. However, hiring pros is not always an option, so we prepared this article to help you if you need to do it yourself. We will explain what you should know about ladder safety and will share tips to help reduce the frequency of gutter cleaning.

Things to Consider When Choosing Your Ladder

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), falls from portable ladders are one of the top causes of occupational injuries and fatalities. If you plan on climbing up a ladder, then you should stay focused and be very cautious. The first thing you need to do is to choose the right ladder. Using the wrong ladder can be dangerous, so you need to choose the right size and style for your gutter cleaning project.

Ask yourself these questions before choosing your ladder.

• How High Will I Need to Reach? – It’s not safe to use a ladder that is too short or too long. Remember that at least three feet of a straight, single or extension ladder is meant to extend past the point of support and serve as the topmost points of contact for your hands. It isn’t advisable to stand on the three top rungs. If you’re using a stepladder, do not stand on the top step or cap. Safety standards require a label on the ladder that shows the highest standing level.

• How Much Weight Will the Ladder Hold? – Ladders have a duty rating that indicates the maximum weight capacity that they can safely support. To figure out the amount of weight your ladder should be able to support, add your weight plus the weight of your clothing, equipment, tools and supplies plus the weight of the tools and supplies stored on the ladder. Safety standards require a label on the ladder that indicates their duty rating.

• What Is the Environment in Which the Ladder Will Be Used? – The kind of ladder you use will depend on the work environment. For instance, if you are working near power lines, then you should use a fiberglass ladder because waterlogged wood and metal can conduct electricity.

Things to Keep in Mind When Setting Up the Ladder

Never use a ladder on a slippery, wet or soft surface. You should always place the ladder base on a firm, solid surface. Here are a few other things to keep in mind:

• Never place your ladder on a barrel, box or any other unstable base in order to gain extra height.

• Make sure to securely fasten extension or straight ladders to upper support.

• Block, guard or lock doorways near any type of ladder so no one can open the door and dislodge the ladder.

• Always clear the area at the base and at the top of the ladder.

• Open your stepladder completely before climbing it.

• An extension or straight ladder should be placed 1 foot away from the surface it is resting on for every 4 feet of the ladder’s working length.

Safety Tips When Climbing the Ladder

Whenever we install gutter covers in Syracuse, we make sure to follow all the necessary ladder safety procedures. You should adopt the same attitude. Never be complacent when climbing up a ladder. You have to be mindful of the task at hand every time you climb a ladder. You should also review the labels on the ladder and check if the ladder is in good working condition. In addition, keep these things in mind:

• Always maintain three points of contact with the ladder. You should have either two feet and one hand or two hands and one foot on the ladder at all times.

• Never climb while carrying tools in your hands. Always use a tool belt.

• When climbing down, don’t skip any steps.

• Face the ladder and always grip the runs, never the side rails.

• Do not climb the ladder if you feel tired, dizzy or if you are otherwise impaired.

• Never move the ladder while in use.

• Make sure that only one person is on the ladder at all times.

Tips to Help Prevent Gutter Clogs

Here are a few tips to help you prevent gutter clogs and reduce the frequency of gutter cleaning.

• Trim Your Trees – You should trim trees and vegetation that are too close to your roofline. This will reduce the amount of leaves and twigs that land in your gutters. In addition, this will also protect your roof from damage in case there’s a storm. 

• Install Seamless Gutters – Seamless gutters have fewer seams and joints that can catch leaves, sticks and other debris, which means fewer gutter clogs. If you are replacing your gutters, then we strongly recommend upgrading to a seamless system.

• Invest in a Gutter Protection System – A gutter protection system can prevent leaves and twigs from entering your gutters, preventing gutter clogs. The right gutter protection system can reduce your gutters’ maintenance requirements, save you money and improve your gutters’ lifespan. As the top choice for gutters and gutter protection in Hamilton, NY, we recommend our Gutter Helmet® gutter protection system.

The Benefits of Gutter Helmet

Unlike other gutter protection systems, Gutter Helmet completely covers your gutters. It has no vertical openings for leaves, dirt and other debris to enter. Rain will enter the Gutter Helmet through a small horizontal slit, while leaves and debris simply fall off the roof. Gutter Helmet works through the principle of surface tension. You can observe surface tension by holding a glass sideways over running water. See how to water clings to the sides of the glass? Gutter Helmet works the same way.

Gutter Helmet has a special textured surface and an innovative nose-forward design. When it rains, the water will cling to Gutter Helmet’s surface, follow the curve of the cover and enter through the horizontal slit. Since Gutter Helmet completely covers your gutters, there’s virtually no chance for leaves and debris to enter your gutters. Our product has been extensively tested. It can protect your gutters even under the heaviest rainfall.

Gutter Helmet is so well designed that it can support up to 22 inches of rainfall an hour. That’s twice the highest amount of rainfall ever recorded by the US Weather Bureau. Gutter Helmet is installed over reinforced heavy-gauge aluminum brackets, allowing it to withstand strong winds and other severe weather conditions. Lastly, our product features a PermaLife™ finish that won’t chalk, corrode or fade.

Barry Best Seamless Gutters can help you with all of your gutter replacement and gutter protection needs. Installing Gutter Helmet and using our seamless gutters can practically eliminate the risk of leaves and debris entering and clogging your gutters. We have nearly 30 years of experience in the industry and a solid reputation for exceptional services and great products. We’re confident in our work, which is why we offer great warranties.