It’s important to cover the ends of extension ladder rails with protective covers to keep the ladder from damaging your house and prevent it from sliding.

While you can buy ladder covers, it’s easy to make your own from an inexpensive foam pool noodle. Here’s how to go about it.

How to Make Extension Ladder Covers:

  • Use a knife to cut a short section (about 6” long) off a foam pool noodle.
  • Split the cut section lengthwise to the center of the noodle.
  • Slip the foam piece over the end of each ladder rail to protect your house.

Watch the video above to find out more.

VIDEO TRANSCRIPT

Joe Truini: If you’re going to be working on the outside of your house, you have to have an extension ladder—it’s simply the safest and most efficient way to reach high places. The challenge, though, is how do you prevent the rails of the ladder from damaging your house.

You can buy special mitts and cushions that fit on the top of the ladder, but they cost twenty to thirty dollars, so I decided to make my own using nothing more than a one-dollar pool noodle.

What I did is I took the noodle, and I cut a section using a serrated bread knife. Then I slit it lengthwise just to open up the hole. What you end up with is this—a short section with a slit on it that you can slip over the rail. And you want to make sure it extends maybe a half-inch or so beyond the end of the rail, so that the corner of the ladder doesn’t damage the house.

Now we’re just going to stand it up, and lean it against the house. Just walk it up one rung at a time and then pull it back to the proper distance. There, perfect.

What you’ll see is the pool noodle will rest against the house, protecting the siding.


Further Information

Editorial Contributors
avatar for Joe Truini

Joe Truini

Radio Show Co-Host

Joe Truini is a contractor, author, and the host of “Simple Solutions” on Today’s Homeowner TV and the weekly Today’s Homeowner radio show. He has worked on both large commercial projects and residential remodeling, and has written for national publications such as This Old House and Popular Mechanics. He has also written eight books, including three best-selling shed-building books. Joe lives in Connecticut with his family and enjoys hiking, traveling, and baseball in his spare time.

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