Step ladders are one of the more commonly owned types of ladder: found in nearly every home and business they are small, light and versatile as well as being much safer to use than straight ladders. Many people refer to smaller stepladders as kitchen steps, because they are often used and stored in the kitchen, as opposed to other areas of the home.

Stepladders for Indoors

Kitchen steps are ideal for reaching the highest shelves and cupboards, changing lightbulbs and extraction hood filters, dusting the tops of cabinets and cleaning kitchen units. They are also useful as a makeshift chair if extra seating is needed in a pinch. The Little Giant Safety Steps are the ideal choice for a set of kitchen steps as they are designed with the home user firmly in mind. They are not the cheapest step ladders available, in fact they are among the more expensive options, but because they come with a five year warranty and all the features you would expect from a Little Giant ladder they are still an excellent investment. The Tip 'n Glide wheels and wide treads make moving and using this step ladder easy, and they can be opened and closed with a single hand. The Little Giant Safety Steps need a gap of just 127mm for storage and they are lightweight: the three-tread model weighs just 9 kilos. This step-ladder comes in two, three and four tread models, so picking the right one for you depends on your own height and what you need the ladder for. Some people may find that the two tread model gives enough extra height for their needs, while shorter people might need the four treads to get enough extra reach. The three-tread model is a good bet and the platform has a height of 68 centimetres, which is a good height for a seat. A step ladder can come in handy when camping or caravanning as well. Static caravans have enough space to store a small step ladder which will come in useful for getting things off the roof, cleaning windows and reaching high shelves. A telescopic ladder can also be handy for static caravans. If you're camping under canvas then a compact step-ladder such as the Little Giant Safety Step can be useful for attaching flysheets to the top of the tent, and rigging up ropes to provide more shelter. It can be used as a seat around the campfire and also as support for a blanket fort, should the kids wish to build a den (or, lets face it, the adults as well!).

Stepladders For Gardening

If you're entertaining in your garden this summer the chances are you'll want to get it looking shipshape before the neighbours come round, so finding a good step ladder that lets you trim back unruly plants and climbers is a must. German ladder manufacturer Hailo offer a step ladder designed for use in the garden, as they come with a lawn bar that stops the legs of the ladder sinking into soft grass. There are four, five and six tread models available, up to a platform height of 1.28 metres, all with wide non-slip treads and a handrail. They are equally useful around the home, but the special weight-spreading bars at the base make them ideally suited for use on soft ground outdoors. With a step ladder that is designed for use on lawns you can hang bunting and lighting around your garden for a party without causing holes in the grass from a sinking ladder. If you are trimming trees or intend to carry out any decorating at height then the Faxko tripod ladder is the best option. It is a step ladder with independently adjustable rear legs that allow the step ladder to be positioned against vertical surfaces for better access by ladder. It also copes well with uneven ground, as the ladder can be set up on slopes and steps. The Faxko ladder is certainly designed mostly for outdoor use, as it is over two metres tall when closed. However, if you have a lot of fruit trees and climbing plants such as runner beans and raspberries then a tripod ladder is perfect for harvesting and maintaining the plants. You can get special ladders for fruit picking, which are designed for use in orchards for getting to the heart of the tree. They also follow a tripod design but only have one extra leg. They are not suitable for use on firm ground, so are not adaptable to any other tasks, but for anyone with a regular need to access trees they are a good investment. All the ladders we have mentioned here are all designed primarily for domestic use with domestic tasks in mind, and all feature a platform as the top tread, as well as a handrail for support when using the platform. Not all step ladders are the same, and the type that is often described as builder's steps does not have a platform and handrail. Generally, domestic step-ladders have a larger top tread, or platform because they will be used by inexperienced ladder users, and also offer a surface on which to keep paint and other equipment. Step ladders designed for the trade should be used when the task at hand is being done in a professional capacity. Only ladders rated for trade and industrial use are suitable for commercial jobs and professional tradespeople, and DIY/domestic rated ladders should never be used in this capacity. Hopefully this has helped you navigate some of the options you have when it comes to choosing a step ladder for the home, but please do take a look at our website and contact our staff for a more personalised consultation on your requirements and budget.