Ladder Advice....

Denverdave

Denverdave

Resident Ragamuffin
I need to get a ladder for around the house since I do not have one right now.

I'm thinking of getting one of those multi position ladders. They are a touch pricey, but given how versatile they are it seems to be worth the extra cost. The one I'm looking at runs just under $170.00 for one that can extend to 18' if needed.

Good idea? Bad idea?



And some ladder music to go along with the post...

 
I've never really put much thought into a ladder. I bought one last year to hang xmas lights on the house, just a regular step ladder.
 
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I've had a 16' Werner ladder like this for a few decades that works for my every household need.
werner-multi-position-ladders-m1a-8-16b-64_1000.jpg
 
When I lived in the US I had a crazy ladder that could do like 50 different positions. It could be a ladder, scaffold, etc. My mother bought it for me one year for Christmas. It was especially good at trying to cut off my fingers as I tried to maneuver it into the various configurations. I gladly sold it when I sold all the shit I wasn't taking to Europe. I bought a regular ladder when I got here.
 
reverend1 said:
Get a good fiberglass step ladder. I have a multi one and it’s a pain in the ass. I just use the step ladder. I will rarely get out the 30’ extension ladder.
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this^

Aluminum is fine, until you are doing electrical work. Wood is fine, until it breaks/rots.

I have a 2' step stool, an 6' fiberglass step ladder, and a 12-20' extension ladder. Occasionally I wish I had a 10-12' fiberglass step ladder to do slightly higher work without breaking out the extension ladder, but the price isn't worth it for the little use it would get.
 
Been doing a lot of ladder work lately and will offer the following notes from the field.

1. Weight is a big deal. Fiberglas is heavier than aluminum, but could save you if you're working with electricity.

2. The multi-position ladders that I know are sort of 'jack of all trades, master of none' and weigh too much. They are seductive as hell sitting there looking all small and compact, the pix/vids make them seem amazing, and then you use them and think "I wish I just had a plain old fucking ladder."

3. The 'recipe' for ladder height I use is 6 feet higher than the 4th rung from the top at full extension. That's how big of a ladder.

Anyhow, I have 8 and 12 foot fiberglas A-frames and a 20 foot aluminum extension ladder. My common area ceiling is 18 feet (and looks higher from up there, hoo boy).

If I were doing stuff up to 8-9 feet, I'd get an A-frame (and def. fibreglas if you're near electricity). If you need to get on the roof, work on a tree, etc., I'd get an extension ladder. Really, you want both.
 
I had one like Tig's but the plastic foot broke and the model is no longer made/supported so I couldn't buy a replacement. While that pissed me off that I had to get a new ladder over a dollar piece of plastic the new one is much lighter and easier to open

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I have a wooden step ladder, a multiposition, and a fiberglass extension. A multiposition is a good compromise if you only want one ladder, but it's a jack of all trades, master of none.
 
A step ladder won't get me on my roof, but it sure will put me in the ER if it is the only one I own.
My firefighter days taught me to never cut corners on a ladder system.
 
The multiladder I have is very useful for me. I can use it as a 4' or 8' stepladder which is enough for most of the tree work and to get on the roof. I use it in 16' mode to get some of the taller/wider trees. If I need more than that I probably need a tree guy.
 
Tig said:
I've had a 16' Werner ladder like this for a few decades that works for my every household need.
werner-multi-position-ladders-m1a-8-16b-64_1000.jpg
Click to expand...
I have one of those.
I use it for everything except getting on to the roof. I have an extension ladder for that.

This one is a bit of a pain with the locks at each joint, but you wouldn’t want a ladder without them.
They do a great job. They’re just a little cumbersome.
 
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I’ve owned a n 8’ Fiberglas for over 20 years now and it’s still in working order. Dad bought a 16’ aluminum extension ladder over 30 years ago and we don’t use it often, but when we need to get up on the roof, it’s good to have. Scary as hell, though, at 30 feet.
 
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