The best step ladder for you depends on what you need it for. Reacting to the needs of the user, manufacturers have developed several variations of step ladder to offset the problems the originals have. These problems are usually height, stability, safety or portability.
Ladders have come a long way from their base, original form, adapting to the varying needs of the user in both domestic and work settings. One of the most popular ladders is step ladders, which boast a wide range of configurations and uses.
Step Ladders are different from normal ladders due to their ability to balance regardless of their position and environment, thanks to the fact that they generally have four legs instead of two. Basic, unmodified step ladders usually don’t rise above 1.5 metres.
Most stable DIY (home use) step ladder
The average room’s height is around 2.5 metres. The average human’s height is around 1.6 metres. A smaller standard step ladder that can offset this difference will allow most people to reach the ceiling of any room in the house, making it ideal for home use. Add to this that the size and weight of a step ladder with so few steps will make it the most portable of any step ladder out there, fitting through doors, down corridors and awkward turns. Point of safety: please do not stand on the top step of standard step ladders, you’ll no longer have the benefit of the frame’s balance and risk falling.
Of course, your home also includes your garden. If your garden is bumpy and uneven, then you’ll find that the trusty four-legged standard step ladder might not be so stable. In these circumstances, you should look at the tripod step ladder. As the name implies, this step ladder is three-legged. It has a spike on its back leg to dig into the soft ground and provide stability to the user. This doesn’t make it unusable inside, as you can swap out the spiky appendage for a softer, rubber base to protect any hard surfaces. Our tripod step ladders are made with aluminium, making them highly resistant to weather effects, so there’s no reason to feel deterred from using them in rough weather.
Finally, there’s the three-way combi stair step ladder. This ladder has a sliding mechanism that allows you to adjust the positioning of the equipment’s wide balancing legs so that you can create a stable foundation on stairs or uneven flooring. This makes areas that were previously impossible due to the uneven ground reachable for cleaning and decoration. Shockingly, the sliding mechanism also allows for the extension of the entire ladder.
Most stable work step ladder
Most step ladders cannot rise about 1.5 metres due to stability issues. There are, however, modified versions of step ladders that can increase the height and stability in tandem. One of these is the trade platform step ladders, which is one of the two most stable. This iteration has a high support rail to support your balance when accessing superior heights of up to 3 metres. Unlike regular step ladders, you can stand on the uppermost platform thanks to the aforementioned rail, and the anti-slipping material making up the large platform’s surface. Finally, what makes this step ladder the most stable of all is the high degree of reinforcement around the base of the ladder.
Most safe work step ladder.
A more niche invention favoured by electricians is the fibreglass step ladder. This variation of a step ladder is used often when working near powerlines or other sources of electricity. The fibreglass material is non-conductive and can withstand voltage of up to 30k. Fibreglass is strong and highly lightweight.
So whilst a small step ladder with but a few rungs would likely be the answer to the question “what is the most portable step ladder”, the fibreglass materials make this step ladder the most portable as far as value goes. They also are highly weather resistant: they can shrug off dampness, rain and sunlight, meaning they won’t rust or decay whilst you’re using them, or if you’re forced to store them in less-than-ideal places.
The best multi-purpose step ladder
Three-section combination ladders fall into this category because, similar to the three-section combi ladder, it has multiple configurations in one package. It has been equipped with an attached stabilising bar which improves the grip at the base of the frame. The clamps, which auto lock the ladder in place, make this ladder among the safest to use. It’s highly lightweight, and its folding ability makes it highly portable.
The final ladder in this category, and guide, is the aptly named “multi-purpose” ladder. Its namesake comes from the fact that it has a whopping 14 different configurations. You can switch between configurations through the locking system, allowing you to adjust the positioning of the frame into your desired configuration. It may take a while to get used to, but the design is intuitive enough that it won’t overly confuse you.
Best ladder for seniors
Best ladder for seniorsA senior should look for a ladder that will offset the disadvantage of age through a tool that has superior balance and safety. In the garden, you only have one option: the Tripod Step ladder. The tripod has a spike that buries itself into the soft ground of your backyard. Unless the ground is very wet, the spike will hold the ladder firmly in place. It would take a great deal of effort to knock it loose.
If a senior is working outside on the hard ground, then there’s luck. Your go-to option also happens to be the most stable, safe ladders on the market. These ladders are the trade platform step ladder. The high support rail adds a stabilising feature that is beyond what it needs and the
Indoors is where things are a tad trickier. It entirely depends on whether you want to use your ladder on the stairs or not. If it’s the case that you want to decorate in those hard-to-reach places, then a three-way combi step ladder is for you. Although it may sound intimidating, the wide balancing legs and the stabilising bar makes this ladder quite indomitable as far as balance goes. Otherwise, it’d be best to go for the three-section combi ladder, which similarly has the stabilising bar.
Strongest Step Ladder
If you are heavier than average, or you are planning to carry heavy equipment, there are two types of ladders that you should look into depending on where you live, what time of year it is and what you’re doing. If you live in a damp area and you work outside, the Fibreglass Ladder’s weather-resistant properties will stave off bad elements.
If you’re doing heavier work than that, outside, then you may want to look into the trade platform ladders. Trade platform ladders are built for the heaviest types of work, where all of your concentration is going into manoeuvring at an elevated height and little on how balanced you are.
Make sure you’re not missing out
In conclusion, when you think about it, there is plenty of choices when it comes to step ladders. Depending on what you’re planning to do, and where you’re planning to do it, the best option should be fairly clear. It may also be worth supplementing your purchase with some ladder accessories. For example, hook clamps are a fantastic choice because they make it much easier when needing to transport your ladder. Hook clamps go onto vehicles at key fitted points to act as a holder for most ladders and are attached to the roof bars of your vehicle.
There are also accessories made to modify ladders to be horizontal as well as vertical. If you have two ladders, or a ladder and a well-placed, well-balanced platform that guarantees stability and grip, then you could buy a work plank. Placing this between the rung of two ladders (or a secure platform), you can walk along the plank when dealing with more work-intensive projects high on the wall. For example, fitting a giant TV.
If you already have a step ladder, but doubt its stability, you can also buy several accessories to help modify what you have into a more modern, reliable form. For example, base plates. There are plenty of base plates that serve to increase resistance against friction on the floor, depending on the type of floor you’re using it against. Making sure that the ladder cannot move is vital, as if the ladder allows for the smallest of nudges, the shock of the ladder’s movement may cause you to panic and grab at the frame for balance. This erratic movement may similarly cause the ladder to buckle. The higher up you are, the more dangerous this possibility becomes.
BPS Access Solutions are here to help with all your step ladder and other access requirements. If you have any questions, we pride ourselves on our customer service. Call us at 0333 0069776 or contact us with your requirements.
