What type of ladder should i buy

Look for the proper duty ratings to match the highest level of use. The height the ladder must reach so the climber may work from a safe position —Stepladders should be high enough for the user not to have to stand above the second step from the top. The first step from the top carries a label warning the user not to stand there. The base of the ladder should be one-fourth the distance from the top support of the ladder to its bottom support.

The basic material from which the ladder is mad e—The most common materials for ladders are wood, aluminum and fiberglass. Wood ladders are non-conductive when clean and dry.

In addition, the pound weight rating means this ladder is strong enough to handle any emergencies or unforeseen situations. Even if no one in your household comes close to pounds, you never know who may be assisting you with a project or asking to borrow your ladder. The feet of the D have nonslip textured rubber grips for use on hard, flat surfaces. When you set up the ladder on a lawn or other soft surface, you can pivot the feet so that the claw end faces downward, ready for you to dig it into the ground for a better grip.

We found that both setups are successful and very stable. Werner is a well-respected name in ladders, and the D has stellar customer feedback on the Home Depot site.

This reception is not surprising, as the majority of the ladders I used in construction were Werner models. The Werner costs a serious chunk of change, but a ladder, even one that you use only a few times a year, is worth the investment. The Werner D has the length, build, and weight rating to handle any household task and perform in an emergency. The ladder weighs 60 pounds, so most roof racks should be able to handle the weight. We recommend using a strong tie-down system, such as ratchet straps, to prohibit any movement of the ladder during transportation.

Like any foot extension ladder, the Werner D is heavy. Our recommendation is to educate yourself on the proper techniques for carrying and setting up an extension ladder. Storing a foot ladder can pose difficulties, as well. The two ladders have the same weight rating, the same general build, and similar safety shoes. Where the Werner model edges out the Louisville model is in its availability in stores.

If you want delivery and need to purchase online, the Werner and Louisville ladders both cost more. You can find a number of add-on accessories that make an extension ladder easier and safer to use, including stabilizers, ladder mitts, and leveling legs. A stabilizer is a particularly useful accessory to have for an extension ladder. This wide U-shaped bar attaches to the top of the fly ladder and braces the ladder off the house, preventing damage. Ladder mitts are nothing more than little rubbery end caps for the rails on the fly section.

The Werner AC pair is well worth its typically minimal investment. If the ground around your house is uneven, levelers can be helpful.

These accessories attach to the feet of the ladder and extend independently, so you can position the ladder properly. The LeveLoks are the only levelers we found that offer a pivoting safety shoe, and they have fantastic customer feedback at Amazon.

Since the legs can accommodate adjustments up to 10 inches, you could set the ladder perpendicular on a flight of stairs. Either option is better than the lazy fix—setting a ladder leg on a couple of bricks—which Wirecutter editor Harry Sawyers once used to ascend from a lower roof to an upper roof on a historic house he was restoring.

He survived. The Little Giant King Kombo Articulating Fiberglass Step Ladder available in sizes ranging from 4 to 8 feet and the Werner Leansafe available in sizes ranging from 4 to 12 feet are both step ladders that can be simply converted into extension ladders. The Little Giant Flip-N-Lite stepladder weighs just 12 pounds about 6 pounds less than the Gorilla but is only aluminum and omits a tool tray. When folded, the Little Giant MicroBurst stepladder is notably thin at just 3 inches thick 1 inch less than our pick.

It also has a Type IA, pound weight rating. Also, the current cost of this model is slightly higher than what the Werner typically sells for. The reach on this ladder is also only 9 feet, not 10 as on the Gorilla.

The rung locks are typically much more user-friendly on the Select Step. When compared with a regular extension ladder, they have a lot less length adjustability and they tend to flex more. This is the extension ladder we tested for this article, and the truth is, this model would be enough for many people. One significant drawback is that heavier people may go over that weight limit, either on their own or once they get loaded with tools. All things considered, we decided that stepping up to the pound rating simply makes more sense.

Lastly, overall sturdiness appears to be an issue: In this video , a professional window washer gets on one, and you can easily see how much it flexes under his weight as he goes up and down. If you do install a stabilizer on your ladder, it is important to be aware of how much width the accessory adds to the top of the ladder; make sure to give any nearby power lines an extra-wide berth.

How to Choose a Ladder , Werner. Doug Mahoney is a senior staff writer at Wirecutter covering home improvement. He spent 10 years in high-end construction as a carpenter, foreman, and supervisor. He lives in a very demanding year-old farmhouse and spent four years gutting and rebuilding his previous home. He also raises sheep and has a dairy cow that he milks every morning.

Our pick. Werner FS 6 ft Type I Fiberglass Single Sided Stepladder A solid ladder with add-ons This well-built stepladder works with a number of buckets, trays, and hooks to hold tools and parts during projects. Upgrade pick. Little Giant Select Step Model A versatile, unusual stepladder Telescoping legs transform this unique model into a 5-, 6-, 7-, or 8-foot ladder, and it can stand up against a wall or on a set of stairs.

Everything we recommend. When you need to go beyond the reach of your trusty stepladder, it's time to buy, hire or borrow a ladder. If you need to put your ladder on an uneven patch of ground, try bolting some stabilisers to the bottom of both sides to stop it rocking.

It's also very dangerous to rest your ladder against guttering. Instead, hook a metal stand-off to the top of the ladder to hold it away from the wall, so that it's weight doesn't rest on the gutter.

A proper roof ladder is a must, even if you're just planning some minor repairs for your roof. It has wheels on one side and hooks on the other. Stand on an ordinary ladder and push the wheeled side of your roof ladder up the roof. Then turn it over and slide the hooks down onto the ridge tiles to hold it in place.

Don't be tempted to walk across the tiles or slates though, as this will damage them - and you could slip off. For larger jobs on a roof, you must - by law - put up proper scaffolding. If you need to work at height, but not on a roof, a simple extension ladder can be a good solution as this will allow you to safely reach a number of working heights outdoors.

As the name suggests, these expand to reach their maximum height. Usually comprised of two or three parts, the sections are slid apart and locked into position ready for use.

This makes it possible to store a large ladder in a more compact space, such as a garage or shed. It's wise to choose a ladder to match the dimensions of your home. You should allow for at least one metre above the highest point at which you expect to work, so a ladder that reaches metres will probably be ideal. A double-extending ladder measures up to 4. Shop extension ladders. If you are planning on making regular use of a ladder, combination ladders are an ideal choice.

Suitable for a range of household tasks, including decorating and cleaning, a combination ladder can be used in a range of formats - as steps, a short ladder, a stairwell work platform or low-level staging. This provides plenty of options, making it easier to match your ladder to the task in hand.