A ladder is an essential member of every household, especially if you are a handy-oriented person. Be for painting, cleaning gutters, or pruning a tree, it is very important to find a ladder properly matched to your needs. The first advice is take a minute to consider some factors that will help you get the most out of your purchase. The main factors to consider are overall quality, size and load capacity.
1- Quality: This is an obvious one, but still important to keep in mind. Besides taking you to the heights, a ladder must be dependable. After all, it will hold you several feet away from the ground, so your physical integrity is at stake. In other words, don’t either go for the cheapest thing you can find at the hardware store or a used old ladder at the thrift store. Always look for known brand names, especially those offering long or better, lifetime warranty.
2- Size: No ladder is good if it is too short or too long. Make sure you get the right size by considering your needs. If the maximum height you need to reach is less than 20’ you’ll be better off with a standard stepladder. Choose a stepladder that is about 4 feet lower than your desired maximum reach. For example, choose a 10-foot stepladder if you’ll need to reach 14 feet. For higher heights you’ll need an extension ladder. As a rule of thumb, buy an extension ladder that is 2 feet HIGHER than the maximum height you need to reach.
3- Load capacity: Load capacity is important for a right choice. The total load capacity must include your own weight plus the weight of tools and materials you are carrying. Up to 250lbs. is usually referred to as Type 1, and is appropriate for common household chores, such as wall and ceiling painting, small fixes and the like.