| Your safety should always be put first. Never put | | | | stroke. Always play it safe and use lots Gatorade. |
| your life second to your house painting project. | | | | 5. Take periods of rest in the shade. Painting the |
| Are you physically fit enough to undertake such a | | | | exterior of your house is very time consuming |
| project? Are your ladders the right lengths to | | | | and the tendency for most homeowners is to |
| safely reach all areas of your house? Review the | | | | pack as much painting into one day as possible. |
| following tips. | | | | This can be a huge mistake, especially if your |
| 1. Ladder levelers will increase safety. Over 70% | | | | body is not accustom to this kind of work. You |
| of all ladder accidents are caused by make shift | | | | can get yourself into trouble physically if you try |
| props for ladders. Levelers bolt onto the legs of | | | | and stretch your physical limitations on hot sunny |
| your ladder providing a very secure fit. Most | | | | days. |
| professional painting companies use them. You can | | | | 6. Do you have the physical endurance to handle |
| greatly reduce your risk of injury by simply | | | | a project this size? Climbing up and down a ladder |
| stabilizing your ladder through the use of ladder | | | | all day can cause your legs to severely cramp if |
| levelers. Once you have them installed they will | | | | your muscles are not physically prepared for it. |
| last for a long time. They will provide safety for | | | | Your risk of falling from a ladder greatly increases |
| all your outdoor painting projects. They are well | | | | if your legs become suddenly weak and shaky |
| worth the money. | | | | due to muscle fatigue. |
| One more thing you will want to consider. Ladder | | | | It is important to evaluate your condition before |
| levelers will save you a lot of time. You will not be | | | | putting yourself at risk. Play it smart and consult |
| constantly trying to fit something under the leg of | | | | your doctor about any physical preconditions |
| the ladder. This alone is well worth the investment. | | | | before attempting the exterior painting of your |
| 2. Having the proper range of ladders reduces risk. | | | | home. It's important to remember that painters |
| Professional painting contractors usually have the | | | | working with a professional painting company are |
| following size ladders as standard equipment. The | | | | used to their work. You may not be used to it |
| size ladders needed for your home will depend of | | | | and that can cause you problems. |
| course on how tall your house is, but coming | | | | 7. Check for wasp nests before attempting to |
| from a professional painting perspective, I | | | | paint. If you are standing on the end of an |
| recommend a 6 foot step ladder , a 20 ft | | | | extension ladder, you do not want to be fighting |
| extension, a 28 ft extension, and a 36 ft | | | | wasp. It is dangerous to be fighting wasp with |
| extension ladder if your house is needs a ladder | | | | your hands when your hands should be gripped to |
| this size. This rage will allow you to comfortably | | | | the ladder. You can easily be distracted to the |
| reach all areas of your house that are accessible | | | | point of losing your balance and falling. You should |
| with ladders. | | | | remove all wasp nests before attempting to paint. |
| Extended ladders do not reach the advertised | | | | 8. Always use a roof ladder where soffit joins |
| length due to the 3 or 4 foot lap so plan | | | | rooflines. If your home has areas that need to be |
| accordingly. For instance, a 28 foot rated ladder | | | | painted above a roof line then rent a roof ladder |
| will only extend about 24 or 25 feet. Another | | | | for a day. Don't take the chance of sliding of a |
| thing to consider is you are going to lose a couple | | | | roof and killing yourself. A roof ladder hooks over |
| more feet when you kick the base of the ladder | | | | the peak of the roof and lays flat on the shingles |
| out from the side of your house to allow for | | | | allowing you to safely walk up the ladder to |
| proper navigation. Realistically, a 28 foot ladder will | | | | service the wall and soffit areas above the roof |
| only give you about 20 to 22 feet access. | | | | line. They are inexpensive to rent. |
| 3. Be sure and use the right drop cloths. The | | | | 9. Never place your ladder on a slope that falls |
| weight of canvas drop cloths will not damage | | | | backwards and away from the house. It is |
| most shrubs, bushes, or hard surface areas; | | | | extremely important to always notch the ground |
| however they can crush smaller plants and totally | | | | using a shovel and pick. Carve out a flat spot in |
| destroy flowers. The best thing to use on small | | | | the soil to give a level, firm footing for your |
| plants or flowers is old bed sheets. They are light | | | | ladder levelers. You have to lean your latter |
| weight and will allow the plants to breath. I do not | | | | against the house, sloped enough to allow for you |
| recommend using plastic over plants or shrubs. | | | | to properly navigate up. This slope combined with |
| The plastic can permanently damage your shrubs | | | | the land slopping backward and away from your |
| or flowers. The plastic will not allow your plants to | | | | ladder, can make an extremely dangerous |
| breath and the temperature can reach damaging | | | | situation. Notch the ground and reseed the area |
| levels. It only takes an hour or two to ruin them. | | | | latter. It is always best to play it safe. This is a |
| Plastic can cause the tops of your plants and | | | | very important safety tip that professional |
| shrubs to die. Extension ladders placed on plastic | | | | painting companies teach their workers. Carefully |
| drop cloths can be dangerous due to slippage. | | | | planning your painting project can go a long way in |
| 4. Make sure you stay properly hydrated. Drink | | | | preventing accidents. |
| plenty of cold Gatorade. I can't emphasize this | | | | Make sure you are properly equipped to maximize |
| enough. Painting outdoors in the sunlight will | | | | safety. Properly plan the time needed to paint |
| dehydrate you quickly, especially if you aren't use | | | | your house and decide if you have enough time |
| to this type of work. | | | | to safely complete the project. Don't rush it. If |
| The onset of dehydration can catch you by | | | | you really find you don't have the time or are |
| surprise. You can suddenly become light headed | | | | physically unable to safely tackle the project, then |
| and lose your balance and fall. Staying properly | | | | hire a professional painting company. They can do |
| hydrated is very important for your health in | | | | the project in a fraction of the time it will take |
| another crucial way. Dehydration can cause a | | | | you. |