Conservatory ladders are something a little different! We've looked at specialist ladders for orchard workers and tree surgeons, as well as specialist ladders for window cleaners and other access solutions that a window cleaner might use, but this one special ladder deserves a column of its own. It is used by window cleaners, by installers, and sometimes by homeowners. It would be a perfect ladder for a burglar, allowing access via a route that is normally out of bounds for a housebreaker.  It is two ladders in one, but it is not a normal combination ladder.  It is designed to be used only outside the home, and cannot be adapted for internal use. If that was not enough of a riddle for you, it also features more than one moving or adjustable part, but is designed specifically for a job which requires careful handling and movement.  This might seem like a fictional ladder, but it is real! Conservatory ladders are constructed as two types of ladder in one; an access ladder to reach the edge of the sloping roof, and a roof ladder to reach the crest of the roof.  It is designed specially for working on conservatories, so the access part has a suction cup attached, which keeps it fixed to the conservatory for extra stability.  The access part of the ladder also has adjustable anti-slip feet that make it secure on uneven ground and prevent ladder slip, as well as a safety strap that attaches the ladder to the structure for extra safety. Between the access and the roof ladder there are handrails on either side, so the transition from upright to flat is as easy as possible.  Conservatories (especially older ones) are made from glass, so care and trepidation is the name of the game when working on them.  As this ladder can also be used on greenhouses as well, the safety features are especially important when the ladder is used around these potentially fragile glass structures. The roof ladder has two rubber covered weight bearing bars which straddle the roof glazing bars and keep it in place, and stop any uneven weight distribution from damaging the conservatory roof.  There is a sliding kneeler section on the roof ladder portion, which incorporates a tool tray and space for a bucket, meaning all your equipment (whether for installation, maintenance or cleaning) can be kept easily to hand at all times.  This sliding kneeler also makes working on the conservatory roof more comfortable than without it, because rather than bracing between metal rungs, or gingerly kneeling on the roof surface, the sliding kneeler surface provides a robust comfortable place to sit or kneel without worrying about damage to the roof, or yourself! Before the conservatory ladder was invented, building and accessing conservatories was a much more dangerous undertaking, involving two separate ladders, virtually doubling the safety risks normally associated with ladders.  If only one ladder was used, to reach the height of the roof, the problem remained of how to reach the crest of the roof, or clean anywhere beyond the reach of an arm.  Crawling boards or chicken (roof) ladders could have been used, but getting them up the first ladder increases the risk of damaging the conservatory or falling.  Thanks to the simple yet brilliant design of the conservatory ladder, none of these things need to be a problem any longer. Because this is a trade ladder, it is built to EN 131 standards and therefore can take a load of up to 150 kilograms.  Suitable for sloping roof gradients of between 2.5 and 35 degrees, there is almost no conservatory job these ladders are not perfect for.  Because this ladder is made up of two ladders in one, the onsite time is reduced and there is no need for scaffolding, work platforms or any other complicated ladder configuration.  Each section is purpose built and the safety features show that the design has been thoroughly thought through. The closed height of this ladder is three metres, so it is fairly long, but would fit easily on a van roof. This ladder is a good investment (and not only for conservatory installers and maintainers) for window cleaners and homeowners. Often, the conservatory roof is dirty as it is exposed to more rainfall and dust than a normal windowpane.  Additionally, conservatories are usually installed underneath an existing window.  The conservatory makes it hard to reach that window to clean it, and often both are left dirty.  The conservatory ladder makes accessing both quick and easy.  As a professional window cleaner, imaging how much more money you could be making by offering a conservatory cleaning service as well? As a homeowner, you may wonder how much use you will actually get from a conservatory ladder, even taking in account the savings on cleaning services for the conservatory and/or windows.  As these ladders are also perfect for cleaning and repairing other low height roofs and sturdy greenhouses, there are a lot more ways these ladders can be used outside the home. Not all greenhouses or outbuildings are strong enough to take the weight of a person (plus the ladder) but those which are will benefit from regular cleaning and maintenance made easy thanks to the conservatory ladder.  Perhaps a group of homeowners with conservatories or a lot of outbuildings between them could club together for purchase a jointly owned ladder that can be shared between the homes?  That way, everybody has access to the ladder when they need it without having to bear the whole cost alone. Because this ladder creates such great access to a conservatory roof, it is very important that it is kept away from the hands of burglars.  Due to the big closed size of this ladder (three metres) it is probably unfeasible for most homeowners to keep it indoors.  It may fit in the garage or a lockable outbuilding, but for full security wherever the ladder is stored, the best way to keep this ladder safe is to keep it on a lockable rack.  These can be fixed to any wall (perhaps in the garage, or on the side of the house) and secure any ladder away to prevent them being stolen, or from being used to steal other things. There are also conservatory ladder models that feature an extendible bottom section for taller eaves heights, or so that this design of ladder can be used on taller buildings. Even though you might not have heard of conservatory ladders before reading this blog, now you know everything there is to know about them.  If you have used conservatory ladders before and have any additional tips and advice we missed and you would like to share, please leave us a comment in the box below.