A ladder can lend itself to multiple uses: it allows you to reach the highest points, change light bulbs, hang curtains, approach the balcony of your beloved woman. But remember not to go under it, otherwise, it will bring you bad luck. Beyond jokes and clichés, there are many occasions when this practical tool can be useful.
To choose the most suitable model for you, you will have to take into account some aspects, such as the height it allows to reach, the weight it can hold, the type of material with which it is made and, of course, its design.
Here we had selected the best ladders that are available below.
Buying Guide to Select the Best Ladders
The staircase is one of the tools that have accompanied man since ancient times because reaching high places has always been a fundamental requirement in many jobs and occasions. Below we will explain everything you need to know in order to choose the most suitable staircase for you.
What Is a Ladder?
The stairway – often also called stairs – is a tool designed to reach high places. It is a very simple tool: two vertical rods joined to various horizontal pegs. Going up on these rungs, also called steps or steps, we can reach high points otherwise unattainable.
Over time, the scales have evolved. Today we find folding and multifunction stairs: the latter allows you to change their shape, so as to be used for different, professional, or domestic jobs. Traditionally, the stairs were made of wood, but today they can also be made of aluminum, metal, or fiberglass.
Which Type of Ladder Is Most Suitable for My Job?
If you plan to use the ladder professionally, the best decision is to opt for an industrial-grade ladder like the ones we described in the previous section. This type of ladder is designed for intensive use and to offer greater stability and safety to the user.
It is important to know which type of ladder is usually used in the various work sectors since each of them has particular characteristics. If you often use the electric drill to make holes in walls, for example, you will need more stability.
How to Choose the Staircase that Best Suits My Needs?
Stairways have some general properties which, depending on their characteristics, can be more or less useful in different situations. In this regard, first of all, you need to clearly define what goal you will use the ladder with. As we explained in the previous sections, this will affect the choice of type and material.
But of course, that’s not all. There are other factors that will determine how you can use the ladder and then, below, we present a list of features to focus on to choose the ladder that best suits your needs:
- Weight: since you will be working on the ladder, you will have to check what weight it can hold. Some scales support up to 150 kg, but these are rare cases. Remember that they must hold your weight and that of your tools.
- Length: a staircase of about 3 meters is more than enough for almost any job, especially in the home. For professional use, there are models that reach 10 meters.
- Steps: the steps of the stairs can be simple, rounded, or square. Professional stairs are equipped with wider steps and covered with some non-slip material.
Stairway for Home Use, with Or without Support?
A stairway for domestic use with lateral support facilitates the ascent and descent. This type of ladder is recommended if it must be used by people of a certain age or who need greater stability. The main disadvantage is that these stairs usually take up more space than those without supports.
In some sectors and works, such as interior whitewashing, the support is usually equipped to support various types of tools. Some house painter stairs are equipped, for example, with hooks for hanging paint containers. In general, to decide whether you will need support or not, think about the types of jobs you plan to do with the ladder.
What Is the En131 Certificate?
The EN131 safety certificate is a regulatory standard developed by the European Committee for Standardization CEN / CENELEC. This regulation specifies the requirements that stairs must satisfy and includes the type, design features, dimensions, materials, technical requirements, and marking information.
In summary, this standard identifies the minimum and maximum quality requirements that stairs must meet in order to be sold in the European Union. Here are some of these requirements in detail:
- The load cannot exceed 150 kg. This weight includes the user and his tools.
- The EN131 standard does not apply to stool-type stairs.
- The depth of the steps must be at least 20 mm.
- Rungs wider than 80 mm are called steps.
- The distance between the steps must be uniform, with a maximum deviation of +/- 2 mm
Things to Consider Before Purchasing
Now that you know everything you need on the scale, it’s time to understand what the main purchase criteria are. Choosing the best model, which suits your needs and your budget, is not a simple task. Fortunately for you, we have prepared the following guide to help you choose and make your life easier.
- Use
- Safety
- Materials
- Height
- Portability
Use
This is undoubtedly the most important factor to consider when buying a ladder. How do you plan to use it? Do you want a ladder for home or work? In the case of stairs for domestic use, the best are those of the stool type or folding ones with a platform greater than 3 or 4 steps.
If you want a ladder for professional use, you will have to look for an industrial model. In this article we have described the different types and their most common uses, so you just have to choose the one that best suits your needs.
Safety
When choosing a staircase, safety is among the first things to focus on. One of the main elements, from this point of view, is the steps. Stairs with wide, rubber-coated steps are better because they will help you stay stable and work more comfortably.
Another element that cannot be missing in your staircase is the safety locks, which block the position of the staircase and prevent it from opening completely or closing while you use it. Safety tie rods and hinges are other ideal complements to ensure the stability of the ladder, as well as rubber feet.
Materials
Traditional stairways were made of wood. Although this material is still used, today the most common are aluminum or white metals, more resistant and lighter. Fiberglass stairs are also widespread, as this material is not conductive of electricity and they are also very light and easy to move.
As for the safety elements of the stairs, the ideal is that they are equipped with high-density rubber feet, for greater stability. You should also choose a model with rubber-coated steps and steel safety tie rods. Finally, even if there are plastic stool models, we do not recommend them, as they are not very resistant.
Height
Domestic stairs have different heights according to different needs. Those with three steps, usually, do not exceed 2 meters in height, while those of four is a little lower than 3 meters. These stairs are ideal to keep in the house or in shops and workshops, where there is no need to reach too large spaces.
For professional jobs or those that require reaching very high, such as in the case of telecommunication infrastructures, industrial or electrical maintenance, the ideal is to have telescopic or folding models that can reach 10 meters in height. They are very solid, resistant, and reliable stairs, even if a little more expensive.
Portability
Most stairs can be folded and transported with ease. The scissor or telescopic ones are light (they are almost always made of aluminum or fiberglass) and, in fact, easily transportable. Usually, these models do not weigh more than 6 or 7 kilos, which allows you to move and store them without major problems.
In the case of domestic models, the measurements are usually smaller. These scales do not weigh more than 5 kilos and, when folded, they do not measure more than 30 centimeters in width. They are ideal to keep at home and store in any corner without taking up too much space.
