A quick paint job turned into a major cleanup after my ladder slipped

I was painting the trim on my second story in Springfield last Saturday, just using a basic aluminum extension ladder. I had it propped against the vinyl siding, but I didn't check that the feet were fully locked on the concrete driveway. About halfway up, the whole thing slid sideways and scraped down the side of the house. It took off a six-inch strip of paint and gouged the siding. I had to stop everything, buy a siding repair kit for about $40, and spend the rest of the day fixing it instead of painting. Has anyone found a really reliable way to secure a ladder on a smooth surface like that?

3 comments

3 Comments

robin8967h ago

Yeah that "sinking feeling" is the worst. @the_robin is right about the dread, you just KNOW it's gonna be bad. For smooth concrete, I use those rubber ladder feet cups you can buy, they GRIP.

sullivan.quinn13h ago

Been there, that sinking feeling is the worst.

the_robin11h ago

Read an article once that called it "anticipatory dread." Basically your brain already knows the outcome before you do. It's a weird kind of emotional shortcut. Makes the actual bad news hit different.