If you're looking to move up the housing ladder a set of ladders could be your best bet for getting onto that next rung.  After a period of turbulence in the housing market, and inequality between supply and demand, things are finally evening out.  In August of 2024 the number of homes available to purchase was at its highest point since before the pandemic, probably aided by rising interest rates pushing buy-to-let landlords out of the rental market due to increased mortgage payments.    Prices are still going up, albeit more slowly than in the past.  With a wider choice for buyers, sellers aren't able to capitalise on a shortage and [...]

Anyone starting out in their own home for the first time, whether that's a rented property, a purchased property or even an unconventional property like a van, static caravan or tiny home, will need a ladder at some stage.  First time movers are unlikely to have their own ladder, so will be starting from scratch with a lot of questions!  The main factors in choosing the right ladder for your home are:   Budget Space for storage Heights that need to be accessed Frequency of use The abilities of the household How many types of ladders are needed   1: Budget is obviously a big factor in the purchase of anything, [...]

The motif of a ladder is often used in art to symbolise ascension or journey – the Led Zeppelin classic Stairway to Heaven is just one instance where the phrase has inspired an artwork, more music or a poem.  South African artist Strijdom van den Merwe created a piece with this title back in 2016, which was bought by a private collector after being on display in his homeland.   Van den Merwe has created a second edition of the sculpture, this time with a twist in the stairs (so it is not exactly the same as the original), which is kept at Creation Farm in the Hemel and Aarde Valley, [...]

If you've ever wondered what happens when someone has a medical incident while up a ladder, the answer is generally that they fall off.  Having a stroke, heart attack or other life-threatening emergency at height makes the situation many times worse than it already is, similar to how experiencing any of these emergencies while behind the wheel would amplify the severity of the situation.   Happily, in an incident in Devon, the person suffering the emergency was up scaffolding at the time, and was actually rescued via ladder.  Initially, paramedics attended the scene but realised that while they might be able to climb up to treat their patient, they would need [...]

Why should you invest in a combination ladder?  For the same reason you'd take advantage of a bulk buy deal on non-perishable items at the supermarket.  Sure, you might not need three bags of cat litter right now, but you'll have a use for the other two in the future, so it makes financial sense to get three now and save yourself money in the long run.    The same happens when you buy a combination ladder – you might need the extension ladder now, but why not buy a stairwell ladder and a stepladder at the same time and save yourself the cost of buying those separately in the future?  [...]

When working with, or near electrical supplies extra care must be taken to avoid contact with live wires, and a fibreglass ladder should always be used.  Fibreglass is non-conductive, meaning that it will not conduct electricity and allow a circuit to be completed.  This makes it safe to use around electricity where conductive metal ladders would pose a significant risk.   Not everyone follows the safety advice, however, and in September two workers were injured as the result of an electrical incident in Groveland, Massachusetts.  While the exact details are unclear at this stage, it seems that fibreglass ladders were not being used.  Two workers were up ladders working on a [...]

It's no secret that we love a via ferrata; metal ladders which provide access in and around mountainous regions, such as the area of Norway around Loen village.  Already host to several via ferrata (albeit ones fixed into the rocks) offering stunning views across the fjords, the latest addition, Stigull, is 131 feet long, at a 45 degree angle and spans a drop of 2,591 feet.  Stigull takes the fearless to the top of Mount Hoven.   This new metal ladder is reached from other sections of the extensive network of mountain routes and has 120 steps, although these are more like skinny rungs than something you'd expect to find on [...]

Unless you're rolling in cash it's quite likely that you won't have made any major moves on the property ladder in the last couple of years.  You're probably also fed up of the same four walls every day – but redecorating or renovating is the next best option to moving house.  Even if a move is on the cards eventually, due to a growing family (or the need to downsize) freshening up your surroundings can make the wait more bearable and make your home more attractive to prospective buyers when the time comes.    The easiest way to freshen up your home is to repaint.  Walls are obviously the place to [...]

Ladders are universally understood.  Used in every country around the world they transcend culture, class or tradition, and they're used in the same way – or are they?  We wondered whether ladder safety advice was the same across different countries, or whether some places have particular concerns about safe ladder use.  We looked at advice from the UK, USA, Canada, Australia and India and compared the guidance each country prioritises.   Three Points Of Contact This was common across all five territories.  This advice is to stop people taking unnecessary risks with carrying items up ladders, or doing lots of manual work while at the top.  The UK guidance states that [...]

A while ago we took a look at the ladders and height access equipment you might need to undertake a DIY home renovation project.  A stepladder and combination ladder seemed ideal for covering most tasks, with the combination ladder able to tackle stairways and places where steps up or down make using a standard ladder impossible.  This came to a minimum of £256 and provided two ladders with which two people could work simultaneously, getting through the workload more quickly than a single person would.   If you're one person doing the majority of the renovations alone, or you're the only one who will use a ladder then the Werner Pro-Deck [...]