I always check the feet and pads, especially on older ladders. It’s wild how much a worn pad can throw off stability.
I get what you mean, but do you ever find that even with good pads, the ground itself is the bigger problem? I’ve had times where the ladder looked fine but the grass was slick or uneven and that messed me up more than the gear itself. I still do the wiggle test, but I’ll also stomp around the base to check for soft spots. Ever had a pad look okay but sink right into mud? That’s caught me out more than once.
That’s spot on—sometimes the ground’s more of a hazard than the ladder itself. I’ve had perfectly good feet just vanish into soft dirt after a rain, especially in backyards with heavy clay. Even gravel can shift under you if you’re not careful. I usually toss down a scrap of plywood or an old shingle if things look sketchy, but it can still surprise you. The wiggle test is good, but nothing beats double-checking what you’re actually standing on.
- Totally get what you mean about the ground being sketchier than the ladder sometimes.
- I’ve had a ladder sink into mud even after doing the wiggle test—felt solid, then suddenly not.
- Plywood helps, but yeah, it’s not foolproof.
- I try to check for roots or rocks under the board too, just in case.
- Good call on double-checking—better to spend an extra minute than end up on your back.
- Honestly, it’s wild how much the ground can change after a rain or even just a heavy dew.
Funny how you can do all the right things—wiggle test, plywood, even scouting for rocks—and the ground still finds a way to surprise you. After a big rain, I’ve seen dry-looking soil just give way under a board like it’s quicksand. Sometimes I’ll even stomp around the spot just to see if there’s any weird give. You’re right though, spending a couple extra minutes beats dealing with a bruised tailbone... or worse.
That’s the thing—no matter how careful you are, the ground can still pull a fast one. I’ve had crews swear up and down that a spot was solid, then a rainstorm comes through and suddenly there’s a sunken ladder or a cracked board. Even with all the checks, sometimes it’s just luck of the draw.
I’m with you on taking those extra minutes, though. People get impatient, especially if it looks dry or they’re in a rush to wrap up. But I’ve seen what happens when someone skips the basics—one guy ended up with a sprained ankle after his scaffold leg went right through what looked like packed dirt. It’s not always about being overly cautious, but honestly, I’d rather deal with a few eye-rolls than fill out an incident report.
One thing I’ll add: even if the surface seems fine, I always check for any odd smells or patches that look “off”—sometimes there’s rot or old fill dirt that just isn’t stable, especially around older properties. And after heavy rain, I’m way more skeptical than usual. Water has a way of hiding trouble.
I do think some folks go overboard with plywood everywhere, but for certain jobs, especially if there’s been weather, it’s worth it. The cost of replacing a busted tool or paying for medical bills is way higher than a few sheets of plywood or 10 extra minutes inspecting.
Guess at the end of the day, you can’t control everything, but you can stack the odds in your favor. Still surprises me how often “routine” checks turn up something weird... keeps you on your toes.
