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Choosing
the Right Ladder for your Home
By Amanda Miller
There are
many different styles, materials and uses of ladders. With all
the options out there, how do decide what is right for your home.
In this article I will explain the advantages and disadvantages
of several of the main ladder types, to help you make an informed
buying decision for your home.
There are
three materials in which most ladders are made from. Each of these
materials offer specific benefits and will behave differently
depending on the use.
Aluminum
Ladders
Ladders made with Aluminum offer a lightweight and strong alternative
to other ladder types. The benefits to this are obvious, allowing
for transportation and use of the ladder with ease. The aluminum
ladder is also resistant to most normal wear and tear gained by
ladders made of other materials. Aluminum also does not need coating
and will not crack like it’s wooden counterpart.
Disadvantages:
Aluminum ladders can’t be used in situations involving intense
heat or electricity due to its conductive nature.
Wood
Ladders
The wood ladder is the traditional ladder type. Most wood ladders
are made of a combination of hardwoods and softwoods, which result
in a very strong ladder. Wood ladders also do not conduct electricity,
so they can be used in places where aluminum ladders cannot.
Disadvantages:
Wood ladders tend to get very heavy compared to their aluminum
counterpart. In addition, they need a varnish to help preserve
the life of the wood. Wood ladders are also susceptible to aging
such as cracks and rot.
Fiberglass
Ladders
Fiberglass ladders are the newest form of ladder. Fiberglass is
a man-made material that, like wood, doesn’t conduct electricity
when dry. Fiberglass is also a very dense material, and can be
exposed to high temperatures for short periods of time without
weakening and will generally regain its previous strength once
removed from the heat. Fiberglass also doesn’t crack or
rot such as wood when left outside in certain weather.
Disadvantages:
While
fiberglass seems to combine the advantages of both aluminum and
wood ladders, it also has unique disadvantages. The density of
fiberglass makes these ladders very heavy, heavier than wood and
aluminum. In addition fiberglass can crack when under great pressure
or impact.
Knowing these
specific advantages and disadvantages to ladder types, you can
now asses what type is right for you. Ask yourself questions such
as: Will I be doing a lot of ladder work outside? Will I be working
near power lines? Will I have another person there to help me
carry and setup the ladder?
Once you answer
these questions you can see what type of ladder lends itself to
your specific needs. And always, if you are not sure how to safely
use your ladder, make sure you consult an expert.
Amanda Miller
is a home repair and interior design expert. She has reviewed
numerous home improvement tools such as little
giant ladder systems.
There are
many more furniture articles in our garage
section. There is more specific information in the links at
the beginning of this article. They can guide you where you need
to go.
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