I have four friends who have suffered serious injuries in ladder accidents (broken bones in 3 instances). While I’ve managed to stay safe on ladders over the course of my professional career (and since), I’ll admit to a few unnerving close calls.
And as I’ve gotten older I’ve become less brave, less foolish, and a whole lot more cautious about using ladders.
So it was, a few years back, at a garage sale, that I purchased the ladder standoff in these pictures. The price was right. I paid $15 for it.
My standoff is no longer made (but there are others—see below). The sticker identifying the manufacturer is long gone. I was unable to find an online image to identify the tool and maker. But I did find this image showing a stand-off like mine up against a wall, instead of the roof.
Notice the cross pieces on the standoff. That’s a sturdifying feature that I don’t see on current stand-offs being sold. (By the way, “sturdifying” is not really a word.)
Stability is the most endearing feature of these stand-off attachments; those wide-apart contact points give fantastic stability.
The stand-off feature is perfect if you have gutters on your house. The ladder can be set up without damaging the gutter.
In my pictures you can see that the ladder does not rest against my roof drip edge. So there is no bent drip edge or damaged shingles. I like that.
Now that I’ve experienced how nice this ladder accessory is, I realize I should have bought one years ago. If you use a ladder, professionally or otherwise, I strongly recommend that you get one of these standoff stabilizers. The cost is cheap, especially when compared to medical bills.
I’ve looked at all the different models on the market. The American-made Ladder-Max looks like the best option to me. There are cheaper options, but I don’t think there are better options. Unless, of course, you happen to find one at a garage sale.
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