When we replaced our deck with composite boards on the surface, we could no longer use that surface for our extension ladder, which we need to do to wash the outside of the upstairs windows.

Not only is the composite surface more flexible than the old deck surface, it is also more slippery. Every fall before it snows we get outside and clean all the windows so that when we’re inside all the long winter we have a nice, clean view (when it is light out).

As fall approached, my mind played with the problem and came up with an idea that proved to work very well. One rainy day I found a 2 x 10 and a 2 x 4 in the scrap lumber pile that looked about right. They were even the same length. I used four wood screws to fix the 2 x 4 to one edge of the 2 x 10 from the underside. This serves as a backstop to the ladder’s feet. (I countersunk the screw heads so they wouldn’t scratch the deck’s surface.) Then I drew a straight line, piloted four holes with the drill, and sunk a galvanized 3.5″ nail into each. I then ground off the sharp points, and voila. Done.

Using it is easy and remarkably effective. You just drop the nails into the space between the deck boards where you want to place the ladder, and you have a good ladder stand. I wish I’d made one of these ladder stands years ago. I was always worried the ladder might slip on the deck.

We call if Alf.

P.S. Rose says there should be a better close-up. Here it is in the initial rainy testing phase: