Buying A Ladder and Using It Wisely

Ladders are used year around, but they can pose hazards, that you'll want to avoid, particularly when you use one outdoors on soil softened by rain or irrigation, or extremely slippery due to snow or ice.

Here are some ladder buying and safety tips:

First and foremost start out with the right ladder for the job.

A 6 foot stepladder works well for working inside a home with 8 foot ceilings; an 8 foot stepladder for homes with 10 foot ceilings. For working outdoors you will need an extension ladder.

A ladder must be well made and feel sturdy, and you want to feel safe, when on a ladder. A wobbly ladder, be it old or new, should never be used. Be it a stepladder or an extension ladder, you will be up off the ground. As my grandfather would say, "it's a long way down, when you fall off a ladder."

Any stepladder you buy should be tall enough, so that you never climb higher than the third rung or step from the top, or higher than the step indicated by the ladder manufacturer.

When shopping for an extension ladder, keep this in mind. Don't buy a ladder shorter than one that will reach 3 feet above the eaves of your house (when choosing a length take into account that the ladder will be at an angle). An aluminum ladder is lightweight and the most widely sold, but fiberglass is the usual choice of professionals, because they are strong and won't conduct electricity. A hardware associate in an OSH store can show you different types of ladders and help you choose the best one for the jobs you have in mind -- as well as the jobs you don't have in mind, but that will come up in the years ahead.

Here are some safety tips

-- Wear non-slip shoes.

-- Always double check to be certain the spreaders are firmly locked on both sides of a stepladder. When using an extension ladder, double check to be certain the two sections of ladder are locked together.

--- Make certain the ladder is securely fixed on the ground. Stand on the bottom rung long enough to be certain, that the feet are aligned and secure.

-- When using an extension ladder against a wall, always position the ladder so that both top rails are firmly against a solid surface.

Aluminum Ladder