Health
Go Higher Safely
Autumn often means up the ladder for handy types around the house. Today's Homeowner offers a step-by-step guide to buying the correct and safe climbing aids.
For the outside, you'll need an extension ladder. Using average one-story house measurements from the roofline to the ground, a 24-foot extension ladder will probably do the trick. For inside, most ceilings are 8 feet, so a 6-foot ladder will do just fine.
Since stepladders are also a necessity, how many ladders do you need cluttering up the attic or basement? The site recommends you store at least a stepladder and one extension ladder. As an alternative, you can buy an articulating ladder, which has three sets of hinges that can be repositioned to be used as either a straight or step ladder.
Household ladders should be listed to withstand weight up to 200 pounds, while more expensive industrial-grade ladders can hold up to 300 pounds.
For the outside, you'll need an extension ladder. Using average one-story house measurements from the roofline to the ground, a 24-foot extension ladder will probably do the trick. For inside, most ceilings are 8 feet, so a 6-foot ladder will do just fine.
Since stepladders are also a necessity, how many ladders do you need cluttering up the attic or basement? The site recommends you store at least a stepladder and one extension ladder. As an alternative, you can buy an articulating ladder, which has three sets of hinges that can be repositioned to be used as either a straight or step ladder.
Household ladders should be listed to withstand weight up to 200 pounds, while more expensive industrial-grade ladders can hold up to 300 pounds.
