If you’re one of the many people who are staying at home over the next few weeks, you may be finding yourself finally getting around to some of those home projects on your to-do list. And as we enter the beginning of spring, one of those tasks may be cleaning out your gutters. If you are planning on tackling the debris in your gutters soon, read on for some of our ladder safety tips to avoid a bad fall.
Do check your ladder: Always check your ladder before using it. Make sure there are all the rungs are solidly in place and that there are no areas of damage or rust. There are also different types of ladders and you want to make sure you’re using one that is appropriate for safely reaching your gutters.
Do secure your ladder: Ensure that your ladder is placed securely on the ground and always on a level surface. Never climb a wobbly ladder.
Do keep three points of contact: Always maintain a 3-point contact when climbing a ladder, either two hands and a foot or two feet and a hand. You should also face the ladder when climbing and keep your body near the center of the steps.
Do ask for help: Have a partner to help spot you. They can help make sure your ladder stays secure on the ground and help keep your hands free while you are on the ladder.
Don’t climb onto your roof: Avoid climbing onto your roof, especially if you are not experienced doing so or if you suspect any damage on your roof. If you have gutters on a second story and are unable to reach those areas, call your local roofer for a professional gutter cleaning.
Don’t go out in the wind or rain: There are already risks to climbing a ladder even in the best conditions; there’s no need to endanger yourself even more by climbing a ladder in a precarious environment.
Don’t overload your ladder: Ladders have weight restrictions and carrying too much can damage your ladder or make it wobbly and cause a fall. Not to mention, carrying things up and down your ladder means you’re not keeping the proper 3-point contact to stay safe!
Don’t lean or reach out too far: When cleaning out your gutters, always work in sections. Never lean out farther than arm’s reach or else your ladder may tip over from the weight. Once you’ve finished cleaning one section, climb off your ladder and move it over before continuing.
Falls are one of the leading causes of injury and our customers’ safety is IBEX Roof’s top priority. Follow the above ladder safety tips if you’re ever working on the exterior of your home. Or, you can also give us a call and let us do the work for you! Gutter cleaning is part of IBEX Roof’s roof maintenance program and all of our employees are experienced and insured. In addition to clearing out your gutters, we will also perform a thorough inspection to make sure everything is in working order!
To schedule your next gutter cleaning, give IBEX Roof’s office a call at 360-218-3194.
They were very responsive to a couple of installation issues and followed through with the business philosophy of finding a solution that would work. Thanks Jeff for your work... read more
Jerry WilleyI wont to thank all of the people that worked extremely hard on both in being honest and doing a great job, and in fast in have enough... read more
Jody KoellingNick and Jeff E. were great. They both took the time to make sure we understood our options, answered our questions and we were able to make the best choice... read more
Donavan AndersonGood price for good work. Crew did full strip and reroof for our two story house in 2 days. Looked great when done. Important to work with a roofing company... read more
Steve WetterlingJeff Eason did a fantastic job and found cost effective ways to avoid high costs
John Bonomi Jr.We actually stumbled across IBEX at the Tigard Festival of Balloons and scheduled a free estimate to have our roof cleaned. And I'm so glad we did! Miguel... read more
Amanda CaseJeff Eason, our project manager, made sure to handle our project with care and attention. He kept us in the loop of what was happening and was generous with providing... read more
Rory ParsonsJeff Eason took great care of me. He kept me up to date each step of the way. I added gutter replacement to my reroofing job and have me regrets!... read more
Michelle HuffmanJeff Eason project manager did a wonderful job and gave me the best deal on gutters
Allen KosinJeff Eason and his crew are professionals who care about the customer. He and his crew arrived promptly at scheduled times. The crew worked efficiently and the roof was installed... read more
Laura Guerra
