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Choosing the Right Ladder for Your Home
by AmandaM
http://ladders.special.eu.com
There are many different styles, materials and uses of
ladders. With all the options out there, how do decide what
is right for your home. In this article I will explain the
advantages and disadvantages of several of the main ladder
types, to help you make an informed buying decision for your
home.
There are three materials in which most ladders are made
from. Each of these materials offer specific benefits and
will behave differently depending on the use.
Aluminum Ladders
Ladders made with Aluminum offer a lightweight and strong
alternative to other ladder types. The benefits to this are
obvious, allowing for transportation and use of the ladder
with ease. The aluminum ladder is also resistant to most
normal wear and tear gained by ladders made of other
materials. Aluminum also does not need coating and will not
crack like it's wooden counterpart.
Disadvantages: Aluminum ladders can't be used in situations
involving intense heat or electricity due to its conductive
nature.
Wood Ladders
The wood ladder is the traditional ladder type. Most wood
ladders are made of a combination of hardwoods and
softwoods, which result in a very strong ladder. Wood
ladders also do not conduct electricity, so they can be used
in places where aluminum ladders cannot.
Disadvantages: Wood ladders tend to get very heavy compared
to their aluminum counterpart. In addition, they need a
varnish to help preserve the life of the wood. Wood ladders
are also susceptible to aging such as cracks and rot.
Fiberglass Ladders
Fiberglass ladders are the newest form of ladder.
Fiberglass is a man-made material that, like wood, doesn't
conduct electricity when dry. Fiberglass is also a very
dense material, and can be exposed to high temperatures for
short periods of time without weakening and will generally
regain its previous strength once removed from the heat.
Fiberglass also doesn't crack or rot such as wood when left
outside in certain weather. One of the newest fiberglass
ladder products is the
href="http://ladders.special.eu.com">little giant ladder
system.
Disadvantages:
While fiberglass seems to combine the advantages of both
aluminum and wood ladders, it also has unique disadvantages.
The density of fiberglass makes these ladders very heavy,
heavier than wood and aluminum. In addition fiberglass can
crack when under great pressure or impact.
Knowing these specific advantages and disadvantages to
ladder types, you can now asses what type is right for you.
Ask yourself questions such as: Will I be doing a lot of
ladder work outside? Will I be working near power lines?
Will I have another person there to help me carry and setup
the ladder?
Once you answer these questions you can see what type of
ladder lends itself to your specific needs. And always, if
you are not sure how to safely use your ladder, make sure
you consult an expert.
Amanda Miller is a home repair and interior design
expert. She has reviewed numerous home improvement tools
such as little
giant ladder system
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