A Concise Guide to Ladders
Posted on December 31, 2009 by Samuel Cheeseman ----- Advertisement
There are many types of ladders currently in production which serve a variety of purposes. A ladder can be described as a set of steps that are either inclined or vertical. The majority of ladders have a rigid structure but rope ladders are also available which are flexible and hang from the top. Conventional ladders are usually designed to lean up against a solid surface but may sometimes be permanently fixed to a building or another structure.
Different Ladder Designs
There are many kinds of rigid ladders and we will cover some of the most popular ones here. The most basic ladder designs are made up of two vertical stringers or stiles which are fixed together in several places by the steps. These ladders have no moving parts and have many applications particularly around the home. A telescopic ladder or extension ladder has a similar design but is split into multiple parts which are capable of sliding in both directions in order to lengthen or shorten the ladder. This allows the user to specify the exact length of the ladder up to the maximum height. Extension ladders have the advantage of being able to reach great heights but at the same time require only minimal storage space when the sections are retracted. 
Many kinds of rigid and extension ladders are often found in the home as they are suitable for many DIY tasks such as repairing and painting PVC or Wooden windows. Variations of these designs are also used as loft ladders. A loft ladder may be fixed in a permanent position or a kind of extension ladder may be used which can be extended as necessary and will slide down through a trap door giving access to the loft.
The step ladder is another popular ladder design and there are numerous variations of it. The most common type of step ladder is constructed in such a way that it supports itself and does not need to be leant against a wall for any kind of support. Step ladders have a hinge in the middle so when they are erected they will form a triangular shape with horizontal supports keeping the structure at a consistent angle. The structure will take the form of the letter ‘A’ when erected. Many step ladders will have a large step at the top which forms a small platform for the operator to work from. The folding ladder is a variation of the step ladder design which a number of hinges. These allow the ladder to fold and form various structures which are particularly useful where the surface they are placed upon is uneven.
There are many different ladders available which are designed specifically for roofing. A roof ladder will have a large hook on one end which will allow the ladder to be secured on the ridge of a pitched roof. The ladder steps provide the operator with an easy way to climb up and down a steep roof without the fear of slipping. These ladders are commonly known as roof ladders, chicken ladders or cat ladders.
The vast majority of ladders have a rigid construction but rope ladders are occasionally a more sensible choice. A rope ladder is usually lighter and easier to transport than a ladder with a rigid design and so they are chosen on some occasions because of these benefits. In general they prove to be most useful in very tight spaces which could not accommodate a rigid ladder that would need to be angled against a structure. Buildings which have a curved shape are also sometimes unsuitable for the use of a rigid ladder so the rope ladder would prove useful in these situations. They are sometimes used by residents in multi story buildings as a secondary means of escaping in the event of a fire. Other common uses include rock climbing and caving along with providing access to garden tree houses.
Materials and Usage
Ladders have been used in some form for thousands of years and for most of this time they were produced from wood. Modern ladders are nearly always produced from metal such as steel or aluminium but in some cases fibreglass is used. Metal ladders are suitable in almost all situations. The metals are cheap and more durable that wood with aluminium ladders being particularly popular due to their light weight. A Fiberglass ladder will mainly be used in the few conditions where metal ones would be unsuitable such as when working with electricity. In order to minimize the risk of a ladder falling backwards or losing grip of the surface it is placed upon the distance between the ladder’s base and the structure being worked on should be around 25% of the total height of the ladder. Devices which increase the stability of a ladder are also available and will prove particularly useful when using a ladder without the assistance of anybody else on the ground.
Pricing
The cost of a ladder will depend on the build quality and what it is designed for. Ladders intended for DIY use in the home or loft and attic ladders will obviously be much cheaper than industrial ones which have been approved for heavy duty use. As a guide prices for a good quality standard extension ladder suitable for use around the home will often start around £50 or $70-80. Industrial ladders can cost ten times this amount or more. Ladders of all kinds can be purchased cheaply and easily online so it will be worth looking at the websites of some suppliers to get an idea of what you can expect to pay for different kinds of ladders.