Question

You’re at a construction site and about to climb the builder's extension ladder to the parapet 20 feet (6.1 meters) above. You notice the base of the ladder is about 5 feet (1.5 meters) from the wall. Do you leave it there or do you ask the builder to move it out from the wall another 18 inches (46 centimeters) or so?

Answer

The contractor knew what he was doing when setting up this ladder. The safest angle of inclination for an extension ladder is about 75 degrees. That's about the equivalent of one foot between wall and ladder's base for every four feet of ladder height.