Purchasing and Using Aluminum Ladders

When it comes to aluminum ladders versus all the others available ladders on the market today, they win in almost every category of specifications and needs for the average homeowner. Traditionally purchasing a ladder is a knee jerk reaction to an emergency need for your home. Sometimes this situation will result in buying a ladder that may not last very long or is not as safe as you would like it to be. Weighing in all the options for aluminum, wood, steel and fiberglass before making a decision is key to safe use, long life of the ladder, and what type of service it’s designed for.

Aluminum constructed ladders are weather proof, lightweight, easy to maneuver. That’s not to say one could not break, but this is usually where the maximum weight rating is ignored and a three hundred pound person is standing high up on a six-foot ladder made for no more than two hundred pounds. These ratings are always listed on the product information literature and should be headed. Weight is the number one problem on ladders collapsing and causing you injury.

Wood ladders will wear out very quickly and will need to be replaced every few years. They usually at least weigh twice as much as it’s aluminum competitor. When wood ladders give way they can also cause damage to your body from the splinters that are created. Another downside to purchasing a wood ladder is that the material itself may have natural defects that could cause to give way while being used around the house.

Steel made ladders are great for load bearing jobs and can take a lot of punishment. Steel is quite expensive and heavy. So consider the weight of the ladder, especially if you are going to be working by yourself. If you specifically have a job that calls for a steel ladder then just go down to the local tool and machine rental and rent it by the day.

Fiberglass ladders are typically heavier than aluminum ladders and will chip and crack from impact to the side of a building or dropping it on your driveway. The particular ladders were created for firemen to prevent electrical shock when being laid next to a building. You can however opt for an aluminum ladder with fiberglass rails if you will be working extensively around electricity.