On Mon, 1 Dec 2008 20:32:52 -0800 (PST), Rose
wrote:

On Dec 1, 9:04*pm, "jch" wrote:
Red Green wrote:
"jch" wrote in
:

The house I just moved into has a tall (two story) front entrance
with a porch light suspended by a chain and hanging about 11ft off
the ground. *It has three candelabra lights and two of them are
*burnt out. My standard step ladder is too short and I have no way
to reach the fixture. *The fixture is open at the bottom but only
about 5" in diameter and the bottom has a base that holds the light
sockets and looks as though it could swing freely within the overall
glass enclosure. *Is there some trick to replacing the bulbs in these
fixtures? *If not then what a poor design this is to require such a
tall step ladder to get to it. *The bulbs are oriented pointing up
(ie base down) so I can't use a pole and attachment to unscrew the
bulbs from below. *I've never had a porchlight like this and wonder
what the trick is.

Is there a pair of posts nearby? If you are that lucky, you may be
able to use a stepladder to temporarily put a long 2x4 between the
posts so you can put an extension ladder on the 2x4. Should this be
an option, be careful. Depending on the length of the 2x4, it could
snap in the middle under certain conditions like height of cross,
your weight, bouncing and especially if there's a knot or defect. You
could double up screwing 2x4 to posts then another 2x4 to the first.
No extension anyway ladder right?

An 8' should give the avg max safe work height of 12'. 8 footers are
not that expensive new. Often on sale. Once you go to 10', prices
jump at a steeper rate. Pop for the ladder. Bulbs are gonna blow as
long as the light works. You'll find other uses for it anyway. Make
sure you get the right ladder rating for your weight.

Third option is to mooch from new neighbor.

I've been looking around for a "ladder enabled" neighbor in favor of option
3. *No luck so far. *I guess a step new ladder could be in order since my
6footer is too short for the porch light. *The other problem is an 18ft high
flood light under the corner roof that I'd like to change to a motion
sensitive unit. *Of course my exstension ladder doesn't reach that. *This is
crazy.
Not there's no railing or window or anyother handy way to get to the porch
light. *Maybe I'll just get a long extension ladder and try to use it for
both the floodlight and the porchlight but that's $200-$300. *The other
problem with that is the large glass window (at the top of the two story
foyer and of no help at all in getting to the light) that leaning a ladder
against might break.

If you had a buddy you could stand on his shoulders.

You could safely extend your ladder at least 2 cinder blocks high.
Stack two blocks on all 4 corners and use 2x8s You gain about 18"