I already have a good adjustable extending pole for a paint roller, and I need to paint a few walls that meet the ceiling of the second floor at 16.5 feet. I plan on using edger and corner painting tools on the extension pole to handle the wall where it meets the ceiling and the wall corners at height.

So I need a step ladder but I'm not sure what height of ladder to get. I don't have experience painting at height. Any advice ? Thanks.

I advise against buying a ladder for your task as you're doing a large area so human nature will be to lean and do too much from one spot risking a fall.

Instead, buy/rent a rolling scaffold such as this one.

We have a podium ladder at home and I absolutely love that thing. Super sturdy, the 3/4 wrap around rail is a great safety feature when I'm up high:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/We...der-PDIA10/205322562

quote:

Originally posted by Mech:
We have a podium ladder at home and I absolutely love that thing. Super sturdy, the 3/4 wrap around rail is a great safety feature when I'm up high:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/We...der-PDIA10/205322562

I spend a lot of time on ladders. I hate those things. Way too big to maneuver around. Only thing I dislike more is a little giant.

I prefer basic A frame ladders, as light as possible too.

I painted my cathedral ceiling using a 16 foot extension ladder with the pads on the ends. The ceiling slopes down from 18 feet to 9 feet. The ceiling was white while the walls were beige.

I used a paint stick to roll the paint on and a brush for filling in the corners. You have to move the ladder a lot but that took care of the walls and upper part of the ceiling.

Half way down, I used a Werner ladder and the paint stick to finish it to the 9 foot wall. Your arms get tired reaching out with the paint stick but there is no splatter and I didn't need a drop cloth.

https://www.acehardware.com/de...sion-ladders/1202290

This new version of the paint stick has the grip lever to feed the paint to the roller verses the old version where you had to push in the stick to feed paint to the roller.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Wagne...aint-Roller/50329995


The paint stick has been around for a long time and is well designed to uniformly feed the paint to the roller by having the hole size along the roller get larger as you move towards the end. Flow equals hole size times pressure.

Many, many years ago I bought a Giant. With it extended to its longest length I can easily reach the gutters on the second floor of my house.

I can also use it to hang a picture hook 9' off the ground (I am 6'4").

brother bought one of these and gave away three other ladders.
loves it
https://www.costco.com/Little-...oduct.100487758.html

his ceilings are vaulted as well.

he also has a 4 x 8 rolling scaffold

quote:

I painted my cathedral ceiling using a 16 foot extension ladder with the pads on the ends. The ceiling slopes down from 18 feet to 9 feet. The ceiling was white while the walls were beige.

This is exactly how I did a foyer. The areas going up the stairway were the only challenge....

When I painted my great room I went and rented a scaffold because I felt using a ladder would be a lot more work and would increase the risk of a fall.

I looked at the rentals from Lowes and HD but instead I went to the local Sunbelt rentals and got a professional one. it was much more stable, set up was easy and it rolled around nicely. It also cost me less. it was $96.00 for 30 days while the box stores were $160.00 for a week. I set it up Friday, took it down Sunday evening, and returned it on Monday.

I would do what spinzone did.

Another scaffold vote. Painted a 17 foot entryway two years ago. Rental for the week around $100. It was nice not have to use extension poles and gadgets to reach corners, etc.

If you go the ladder route, be mindful of the selected ladder's footprint when deployed in relation to your project.

quote:

Originally posted by darthfuster:
I would do what spinzone did.

Only if it was 1992 or you had just "come out".

quote:

Originally posted by Georgeair:

quote:

Originally posted by darthfuster:
I would do what spinzone did.

Only if it was 1992 or you had just "come out".

Pretty sure he was talking methods.

quote:

Originally posted by Skins2881:
Only thing I dislike more is a little giant.

Funny you say that. I have a little giant and love it. Sure, it’s heavy, but it’s solid as a rock and is the only ladder I’ll ever need.

-Rob