Going into 2020 the days are starting to get longer again, although it might be a few weeks before we really notice the difference.  The trees and hedgerows are bare, and the natural world seems to be in limbo, waiting for the first signs of warmth that herald the start of spring.  This is often the best time to undertake radical pruning of shrubs and hedges as you can see what you are cutting very easily, without the leaves obscuring detail.   Many garden jobs can be done from the ground, while tall shrubs and hedges require some kind of height access equipment to be able reach the very top.  The [...]

Telescopic ladders represent the most recent large scale innovation in the ladder world.  Their space saving features, relative light weight and ease of transportation make them a great choice for professional and domestic users alike, with surveyors, caravan owners and those living in small homes among the main customers.  Unfortunately, like all popular equipment there are counterfeit versions on the market and it can be hard to spot them.  It is vital, therefore, that you purchase from a reputable and knowledgeable supplier like us.  We have years of experience and a consistent supply chain, that enables us to sell only genuine and reliable models that put your safety first.    Any [...]

We hear a lot about ladder accidents, near misses and rescues involving ladders, but there are some truly inspirational stories out there.  Anything with a firefighter in gets our attention because they do such vital work and carry out risky tasks every day in the pursuit of saving lives.  That's why when we heard about Alexis Metko's inspirational story we had to bring it to you.    Alexis Metko joined the fire service when she was 16 years old, as a volunteer in New Jersey.  After moving to Wisconsin, now aged 32 years old, she needed to attain certification to work in that state, and was training when a near fatal [...]

Scaffolding is a must-have for certain jobs.  Any projects to the exterior of a building usually means that a lot of time will be spent working at height; whether that job is repointing, painting, cladding or fitting new windows, a considerable amount of time will be spent in the air, and then there is the issue of materials.  How will you transport raw materials up to the right height?  Where will they sit while you work?  Scaffolding answers all these questions, however, sometimes hiring a whole scaffold rig is a bigger outlay than is really needed, or there could be other reasons why a scaffold rig can’t be put up.   [...]

Fear not, our festive take on ladders is here, sung to the tune of Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer; you'll be singing this all the way to Christmas Day!   You know hop ups and kick-stools and platforms and scaffolds, Roofing and access and tripod and garden But do you recall The most useful ladder of all?   Steppy the short step ladder Nothing's easier to climb And if you ever use one You'll be saying “this is fine”   All of the other ladders Have their uses as we know But it's the humble A-frame That's always gonna steal the show   Then one foggy Christmas Eve Decking out the [...]

So many professions involve the use of ladders.  There are the obvious trades, like building, glazing and roofing which require work to be carried out at height, but surveyors, decorators and cleaners also need to use ladders for some tasks.  Infrequent ladder users often choose a telescopic ladder for the ease of transportation, but protecting these ladders, as well as other equipment during transport is vital to avoid damage and breakages.    Zarges, a well-known ladder manufacturer, have a range of sturdy, durable storage cases which are suitable for storing and transporting all manner of kit.  The 60 litre size and upwards will take one of Zarges' telescopic ladders, with plenty [...]

We are almost at harvest season, we can see a lot of fruit developing and ripening on the trees already, and while windfall apples are all well and good they keep better when picked directly from the tree.  What sort of ladder do you need for fruit picking, and why?   On paper three legs may seem less stable than 4, but out in the field four legged ladders are actually less stable, because they are trying to spread the load and cope with uneven ground over more points.  Three legged ladders are much better at coping with uneven ground as there is one less leg to level out.  Milking stools, [...]

With the property market in a state of flux and the general economic uncertainty that Brexit provides, an increasing number of homeowners are opting to stay in their homes and spend money on extensions and conversions to increase their space, rather than moving home altogether.  Even a move within the same area can be costly and stressful and with people in many areas facing a loss in house value if they sell now, the decision to stay put has never been easier to make.  People who have bought homes in need of renovation may find they struggle to sell at a reasonable price if there are projects left unfinished, so often [...]

Walking under a ladder is almost universally considered to be bad luck.  The superstition is thought to be based on the ancient Egyptian practice of leaving ladders in tombs so that the dead could ascend upwards if they wanted.  Egyptians believed that the triangular space between the ladder, the floor and the wall was filled with good and evil spirits, and that they should not be disturbed.  It was therefore, forbidden to walk underneath any leaning ladder for fear of disturbing the spirits and incurring their wrath.  We know the triangular shape created by a ladder leaning against a wall was sacred to ancient Egyptians - we can see it in [...]

Lieutenant Bill Finegan, an experienced firefighter from Philadelphia, has launched a campaign and a product for incorporating LED lights on to fire fighting ladders which will illuminate the area underneath the ladder, revealing areas where a fire may spread to or hazardous items that could explode, as well as casualties who may have fallen from the burning building or who jumped out to escape the flames.   In 1994, Finegan attended a night-time domestic blaze which killed three members of the same family.  The youngest's death was the hardest hitting, as the four-year-old girl had fallen from the building and was found dead underneath debris hours after the fire was put [...]