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There's nothing like the right tool for the job. Ladders are basic tools, and having the right one under you will increase your safety and efficiency while reducing your fatigue. Here are some tips to help you choose the ones to buy:
Ladders are made in a variety of types, sizes, materials and strengths. The one you need for a particular task depends on the who you are, the job you need to do and where you are going to do it.
In general, jobs inside the home require a stepladder, while many jobs outside require an extension ladder.
To determine the right size stepladder for you and the job, measure from the places you will be setting it up to the highest point you need to reach. Subtract your height from that measurement and add two feet. That's the height you will probably find most useful. For example if you are 6' tall and are working on something 10' tall, the formula would be (10' - 6' + 2' = 6')
If you choose a stepladder, you should never have to stand above the second step from the top to do any project and you won't have to lug and store a ladder that is bigger than you need. That is really important. Standing on the top step of any stepladder, or on the top plate, makes both you and the ladder dangerously unstable. Staying on or below the second step down allows you to brace yourself with your knees on the ladder and keeps your center of gravity low enough that the ladder should not tend to tip easily.
The right size extension ladder for the job is determined by measuring the span it needs to reach and adding three feet. I estimate that by measuring straight up to where I need to be, adding 20% to that value and then adding the three feet. The 20% comes from comparing the hypotenuse to the vertical leg of a 3 X 4 X 5 right triangle. It's a generous allowance because you should set the base of a leaning ladder about one-quarter to one-third it's working height from the vertical line down from where it contacts the wall or soffit or whatever you're leaning it on. I like that because it usually means that I don't have to extend the ladder to its maximum reach, and it feels a lot sturdier if I don't.
Whether you choose wood or fiberglass is a matter of esthetics, I think. At the store, try them on the way you would a new pair of shoes: pick them up, carry them around and set them up. Get the one that feels right to you.
Ladders are rated for the load they can safely support. Remember to add the weight of the tools and materials you will be using at one time to your weight before deciding which category you need. The ratings are I-A (up to 300 pounds), I (up to 250), II (up to 225) and III (up to 200 pounds).
Invest a little thought and a reasonable amount of money in a ladder - you are not just using it to get the job done; you are using it to save your life and health.
Home improvement tips from Little Giant Discount. Home of the Little Giant Ladder system as seen on tv.
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