What To Look For When Buying A New Ladder

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It may not be rocket science, but there are some things one should look out for so you don't end up buying the wrong ladder and worse yet, have nowhere to store it. 









Parts of a ladder:
https://archive.org/details/gov.law.ansi.a14.1.1990 



Some important questions:

Firstly, what are you using it for?
Most people use a ladder to reach some place higher up, but will you be using it daily or just on the odd occasion? 
Will you need to carry something on it?
Will you be standing on it long?
Will you have anyone to help hold the ladder?
Do you need to carry it around?
How much money do you wish to spend on it?


A simple extendable ladder might be useful to climb onto the loft, but if there is no one holding it, you may slip. An A Frame ladder will allow you to use it alone, but these are not meant for standing on for long durations.
You may wish to get a platform ladder which has a working flat platform so you can stand steadily for a long time say when painting the ceiling or taking down some curtains.
If it is really high, you may need to have some safety railings.
Now if you need to step off the ladder onto the loft for example, you may not want the safety railing, which may impede your movements.




Castor wheels help movement, but make sure there's a way to secure them from moving when you need stability.

Ladders made of fibreglass are lighter but more expensive. Most are made from aluminium for weight savings. The step width and depth matters too and how much is the spread of the ladder will be important in tight spaces.

When you look at ladders, check on the total height when the ladder is closed, but also check the reach and more importantly, the working height. The reach is what the person on the ladder might be able to reach, but the working height is how high a person can stand on the ladder safely. See if there are any ways to secure the ladder from shifting or sliding backwards. See what's the maximum load it can carry.

Popular Mechanics has a nice article on safety:

Ladders come in many sizes and styles, so if possible, do see it in person first and do measure up at home first, so you confirm what is the real height you need, and also the space in your home to store the ladder.

Check that delivery is included, because many ladders will exceed the carrying capacity of your car. 

Most people keep that ladder for a long time, so buy with a little care and plan for the future too.

Keep safe and climb on! 



____________________________________________________________ 
 I have no financial interest or other interests in any of the items / events I write about.

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