Step One - Lay the ladder on the ground with the base resting against the bottom of the wall and the top pointing away from the wall.
Step Two - Starting at the top of the ladder, lift the end over your head and walk under the ladder to the wall, moving your hands from rung to rung as you go. If it’s an extension ladder, raise the fly section by using the rope and pulley. Check for overhead clearance, especially electrical hazards.
Step Three - When the ladder is vertical, and the top touches the wall, pull out the base using the four feet to one foot rule. This means that the ladder should be placed one foot away from the base for every four feet in height to the place where the top of the ladder rests. For example, if a ladder is supported at a point 20 feet above the ground, its base should be five feet from the wall. Twenty feet divided by four is five feet.
Keep one foot on the base rung of the ladder to provide firm footing for the ladder. If a ladder is too close to the wall, it is likely to tip back. If it’s too far from the wall, it’s likely to slide out from the bottom.