My daughter's new home will soon be finished. When it's done I need to hang a ceiling fan in the family room for her. The builder installed the electrical box and pre-wired it. The ceiling is 18' high. Does anyone have any innovated ideas to get me up there to hang it? I really don't want to buy a tall (expensive) stepladder just to use once or go out and rent scaffolding. It will take a whole lot more time and effort to get, erect and return the scaffolding than it will to actually hang the fan. Geeze! Anybody have any experience?

Unfortunately, those two things are the safest ways to do that.

You may want to try an A frame extension ladder. They are 10 ft or so with a 10-12 ft. center extension. Easier to use than an A frame to get the same height. Did the builder use 2 switches?

Went on line and found Werner makes a 17' extension ladder costing $169 at Lowe's. Maybe I'll just break-down and buy one... I'll also look into a rental.

A-frame extension ladder sounds scary! Only time I ever climbed a vertical ladder was on the side of a ship... and I was scared! Hanging on with both hands would only leave my teeth and eyelids to use to actually hang the fan!

Like ChefPierce said, there are only a few options available, the ladder, scaffolding, or an aerial lift. None are cheap.

Adding a ceiling fan to an 18' ceiling means that you will need to be right up to the ceiling to reach the box and make the connections. I wouldn't use anything that would not allow for secure footing at or around 14' as a minimum.

You will also need to be certain that the mounting box is rated to support eh weight and movement of a fan and not just a light fixture.

18' is pretty high and can be a little nerve wracking. We use an adjustable A-frame ladder that will adjust from about 12' tall to 21' tall allowing for about a 24' reach.

Always consider safety first when working on a project like this. Be sure the equipment is of high quality and in good condition.

If the fan has lights, then you'll need that ladder to change the bulbs in the future. I've also seen a pulley system used to lower the fixture down so it can be serviced. I was all set to set up a ladder to change out bulbs on a very high fixture, when I noticed a small strange door on one of the walls in the room. I opened the door and there was a rope inside wound up in a dog mechanism. I undid the rope and walla , the fixture came down to a comfortable height for servicing.