‘Tis the season for climbing on your roof. From clearing gutters to hanging Christmas lights, this is the time (no pun intended) to get out the dusty ladder and start climbing. Here’s how to choose the right step ladder for your job.
There are two main questions you need to answer before buying a ladder: What height are you trying to reach, and what material should the ladder be? Lowe’s has a handy ladder buying guide that will help guide you through the process.
A person that is 168cm tall with a 30cm vertical reach should purchase a stepladder within 120cm of the max height they are trying to reach. If the roof is 4m high, for example, then a person of this stature should buy a 240cm ladder.
You’ll also have to choose the right material: Wood ladders are the least expensive, and they are electrically nonconductive (when clean and dry), but they have a short lifespan and can be easily damaged. Aluminium ladders are more expensive than wood ladders, but they are strong, lightweight and resist corrosion. They will conduct electricity, so do not use when working near power lines. Fibreglass ladders are nonconductive and are the safest bet when working near electricity. They offer great value and are very strong.
The guide has a bit more information and some handy tables on finding the right height — check it out at the link below.
Ladder Buying Guide [Lowe’s]
Comments
3 responses to “Choose The Right Step Ladder Before Starting Your Climb”
The right step ladder is the one you already own.
Took me a while to realise this was actually an article on step ladders…thought the title was a metaphor on life or something…
Importantly a 240cm step ladder that you can fold out to ~420cm extension..