We collect the weirdest, cutest and funniest ladder related stories for you to enjoy in your coffee break, and this time we kick off with what might have been the event of the year.  The Queen's Platinum Jubilee may have been the big event of 2022, but the inaugural Edinburgh LadderFest was the undoubted underground hit.  Organised by student Daniel Lawrence the event, held on Saturday 7th May at The Meadows, originated on Facebook and attracted the attention of online commenters as well as 25 people who turned up with their ladders at the venue.  Lawrence was inspired to create the event due to the number of flats in the city's [...]

We stock hundreds of different ladders and height access solutions, from single steps and hop-ups all the way to specialist ladders for accessing tanker roofs and grain silos.  Whether you're after a step ladder to use around the house, or a super tall extension ladder for DIY and professional trade use we have got you covered, so here's a look at the longest ladders we carry from the main manufacturers. Werner is a big name in the ladder industry and they're a brand you can trust.  They take testing very seriously and offer a ten year warranty on their products because they're built to such a high standard.  Werner load test with [...]

When we overheard some off-roaders talking about sand ladders we were intrigued.  Was this some kind of beach equipment?  Perhaps something they'd seen in a sand sculpture competition?  Out came Google and we got the answer – sand ladders are for off road vehicles travelling in dry, dusty or sandy terrains like a desert or, closer to home, the Ashdown Forest or sandy beaches where heathland and dunes can pose a problem for vehicles. A sand ladder is what you use to provide traction when the wheels of a vehicle have sunk into dry, loose ground (just like dry, dusty terrains and sand dunes) and the surface can't provide any grip.  The [...]

Telescopic work platforms bridge the gap between mobile scaffolding and platform step ladders, offering a safe and secure method for working at height in a variety of situations.  Taking up far less space when packed away than a mobile scaffold tower, and with a fully guard-railed platform the Zarges ZAP telescopic work platforms offer the ultimate in versatility, speed for solo working, and safety. We offer these platforms in 3 height ranges, 4 to 7 tread, 5 to 9 tread, and 7 to 12 tread.  The smallest model provides platform heights between 1 and 1.8 metres, while the tallest model takes you from 1.8 metres to 3.15, which is a whopping working [...]

A brazen ladder thief was caught on CCTV stealing four ladders from outside a DIY shop in Grimsby in early April.  Crown Paints posted a still from their CCTV on social media asking for help in catching “hi-vis man”, as he has been dubbed.  Hi-vis man was wearing all black, including a face mask, plus an eye catching bright orange vest when he carried out the theft on an otherwise uneventful Sunday.  The store wants to get their ladders back safely and it is likely that the culprit will face prosecution given the strength of the evidence they have. Unfortunately, the cost of living crisis is likely to send rates of shoplifting, [...]

Whether you're a regular or infrequent ladder user you'll know that one of the most important skills involved in staying safe on a ladder is balance.  It’s one thing to get the ladder set up and balanced properly, but our own personal sense of balance is what keeps us safe while we work at height.  There are several medical reasons as to why a person's sense of balance may be impaired, including ear infections and low blood sugar, but poor posture and weak muscles can also contribute to a lack of balance.  That's something we can address ourselves.   Ideally when we need to work up a ladder for long periods [...]

Whether you're installing the wiring in a new build, or replacing the wiring in an older home you'll be up a ladder for hours on end and you'll need access to various tools all the time.  Electricians use fibreglass ladders because they don't conduct electricity, making them safe to use on any and all job involving wiring and installing new rings.  For most domestic electrical work the maximum working reach you'll need is 2.6 metres, which is the tallest standard ceiling height, but for working on older properties with higher ceilings, or on stairs you'll need much more working height, and perhaps even a different type of ladder. For everyday wiring installations, [...]

There are times when we need a little extra height and a stepladder is too much – perhaps we just need to reach a high up shelf or cupboard?  It might be that a light bulb needs changing, or we're redecorating the downstairs loo and we're pushed for space.  It's these times that a hop-up meets our needs perfectly.   A hop-up is a single step that gives you a little boost in height for jobs that are just out of reach.  There are various models, but the most common is a painter's hop-up like the Hopstar.  The 600 x 600 mm platform gives you loads of space to stand on [...]

There was an article where two men fell afoul of nail guns whilst up a ladder, one accidentally firing a nail into his chest and the other firing two into his head after he fell from a ladder holding the power tool.  It doesn't take much to work out that a nail gun is intrinsically more dangerous than a ladder, but the combination of the two can be a recipe for disaster.  Whilst these are extreme examples, it highlights the dangers. These accidents aren't going to stop people using power tools up a ladder – it's a part of construction and virtually unavoidable, but there are precautions we can take when [...]

One of the most well-known ladder metaphors is the property ladder, especially in terms of how hard it is to actually get onto the first rung.  For a lot of people, that first rung is pretty far away but with careful financial planning, and a little help from the Bank of Mum and Dad, people do manage to buy their first home.  The thought of taking the big step to the second rung isn't even part of the questions when making that big investment, but the time eventually comes to take that next step.    With more families moving to detached, rural homes after lockdown experiences it is becoming harder for [...]