Renting
Renting a ladder or scaffold for a weekend project
Which ladder you need for gutters, painting or a light fixture, how to move it safely, and what to look for before you take a neighbor’s ladder home.
A 24-foot extension ladder is used a couple of times a year and stored the other 360 days along a fence. It is one of the easiest things to borrow from a neighbor, and one of the most dangerous tools in the category if you pick the wrong one or set it up badly.
Which ladder for which job
- Gutters and second-story windows on a single-story or split-level home: a 20- to 24-foot extension ladder.
- Two-story gutters and siding: a 28- to 32-foot extension ladder, and a second person to foot it.
- Interior painting, ceiling fans and light fixtures: a 6- or 8-foot step ladder. Extension ladders are wrong indoors.
- A whole wall or ceiling: a small scaffold or a multi-position ladder set up as a platform saves your legs and is far safer than reaching.
At pickup
- 1Check the feet. Worn or missing rubber feet are the most common cause of a ladder sliding out.
- 2Extend it fully and check the rung locks and the rope on extension ladders.
- 3Look for bent rails and cracked rungs, especially on aluminum.
- 4Note the duty rating on the label (Type I or IA for outdoor work) and make sure it covers you plus tools.
Moving and setting up
- A 24-foot ladder does not fit inside most cars. Roof racks with straps work; ask the owner how they move it.
- Set the base one foot out for every four feet of height. Use the 4-to-1 rule every single time.
- Have someone foot the ladder for anything above the gutters, and never stand on the top three rungs.
- Return it clean and dry, with the rope coiled, at the agreed time.
For the rest of the tool safety basics read the power tool rental safety checklist, then browse tool listings nearby.
Frequently asked
How do I get a long ladder home?
Roof racks and ratchet straps for anything over 16 feet. Some owners deliver for a fee; ask in messages before booking.
Is a deposit required for a ladder?
Every booking carries a refundable security deposit sized to the item’s declared value. For a ladder it is small, and it releases 72 hours after return.
Can I rent a ladder for a single afternoon?
If the listing shows an hourly rate, yes. Otherwise the minimum is one day, and a day is usually the right unit for gutters or painting anyway.
Borrow it from a neighbor instead.
Deposit-protected bookings, priced by the day.
More tools to rent from neighbors
Priced by the day, deposit-protected, from people nearby.
Keep reading
Power tool rental checklist: what to check before you pick up
A pre-pickup checklist for renting drills, saws, compressors and other power tools from a neighbor, including the safety acknowledgment Rentsome requires.
Should you rent or buy a pressure washer?
A pressure washer gets used a couple of weekends a year. Here is how to decide between renting one from a neighbor and buying your own.
How security deposits work on peer-to-peer rentals
What a rental deposit is, how Rentsome sizes it (30% down to 10% of item value, capped at $2,000), why it is a hold rather than a charge, and when it is released.