What Size Ladder For 3 Story House – Complete Guide
If you want to know what ladder size is perfect for a three-story house, follow this article until the end. Moreover, there are some general calculations that you can do to know the height of the ladder you need. Here, we will guide you about this.
However, working on a ladder is always a challenging thing. You need to follow all the safety instructions to work safely. Be it a one-story building, two-story building, or three. Similarly, working on a third-story building demands more precautions. Besides precautions, you also need to select the perfect ladder size. Let us see in detail now;
It would help if you were 100% sure about your requirements before purchasing one. Before any calculations, make sure you have taken care of all your considerations in mind;
1. The building’s height
It is the most important thing to consider. The height of the buildings for three-story houses varies depending on the residential rules. In general, however, the size of one-story buildings is between 10-14 feet.
So, on average, the height of three-story buildings would be around 31 to 32 feet. To reach this height, the ladder should be three feet taller than the height of the building.
2. Ladder Type
In terms of type, the extension ladder would be the best for three-story buildings. Since they are capable of reaching the height of three-story buildings. There is one general formula that you can use to calculate the size of the ladder;
Height of ladder=Maximum reach + 1 + reach/6
Note: don’t forget to consider the mandated overlap for the extension ladder into account while calculating the final height of the ladder:
| Overlap control for extension ladders | ||
| Ladder size (feet) | Overlap (feet) Types I and IA | Types II and III |
| Up to and including 32 | 3 | 3 |
| Over 32, up to and including 36 | 4 | 4 |
| Over 36, up to and including 48 | 5 | 5 |
| Over 48, up to and including 72 | 6 | _ |
The height of the ladder you for three-story buildings would thus be:
Size of the Ladder needed by type
| Ladder | Height in feet | Highest Reach |
| Extension | 45/40/36 | 40/35/31 |
| Extension Trestle | 18/20 | 34/38 |
What Size Ladder Do I Need For a 3-Story House (FAQ)
What is the safest type of ladder?
The aluminum or fiberglass ladders mostly come with rungs serrated for slip resistance. Moreover, the fiberglass ladders are light and have non-conductive side rails that are great when you work around electricity.
At what angle should you place an extension ladder?
The general rule of thumb is to place a ladder at 75 degrees. In simple words, the ladder’s base should be about one-quarter of the length of the ladder. In other words, you need to follow the 4-to-1 Ladder rule: if a ladder is 40 feet off the ground, the base needs to be 10 feet from the wall.
What are the general safety requirements for ladders?
While climbing up the ladder, you need to face the ladder. Similarly, you should always maintain three-point contact (two feet and one hand or two hands with one foot) with the ladder. Likewise, don’t carry stuff with you on the ladder.
Conclusion
We tried our best to guide you about the size of the ladder for the three-story house. Likewise, it would help if you were also careful about other factors. Meanwhile, you have to decide upon all the essential elements.
Indeed, this guide will make it easier for you to decide the ladder’s size. Thus, get your favorite ladder and keep it in proper condition to work safely. Let me tell you that ladder doesn’t have an expiry date. However, maintenance and storage are essential. The ladder should always be in good condition. A loose rung or any defect would make it risky for you to step on it.
Likewise, the slippery steps might also cause incidents. So, you have to be very careful before climbing it. You should do all the necessary checks to ensure you are stepping on something safe.
