Great Ladders

Some of the simplest types of ladders are called step ladders or A-frame ladders. A small step ladder may be used indoors to reach upper storage spaces or to hang artwork on the walls. A-frame ladders are often used to elevate the user perhaps four feet or so from the ground. Step and A-frame ladders use fairly wide treads (steps) for stability and usually fold together for easy storage. Step and A-frames ladders are generally not expensive and should provide enough elevation for routine tasks around the house.

For those who must reach the sides of their homes for painting or roofs for maintenance, extension ladders are a must. Extension ladders may fold down to the length of one segment for storage, but can be telescoped to reach many feet in the air. Unlike the self-supporting A-frame design, extension ladders are often propped against walls or other sturdy surfaces for support. The legs have adjustable foot pads which provide level contact with the ground. The rungs of many extension ladders are round and narrow, unlike the wide and flat treads of step ladders. Wearing proper footwear is essential when working with extension ladders, since the rungs can become oily or wet over time.

A special form of extension ladder is the roofing ladder. A regular extension ladder may lean against a wall or tree, so the ends may be squared off a bit. Roofing ladders, on the other hand, should extend a few feet past the edge of the roof. For extra security, these ladders often have hand grips or special hooks on their top ends. Roofing ladders can be used as regular extension ladders, but extension ladders should not be used as roofing ladders. They simply lack the added security needed for safe roof work.