A step ladder is an essential piece of kit for every home.  Nearly every day-to-day task around the home can be made easier or safer with good step ladders.  From changing lightbulbs and smoke alarm batteries, to dusting on top of cupboards and reaching high up shelves, the step ladder is the one bit of equipment that makes all these jobs a doddle. Many people stand on a kitchen chair to get the extra height they need, but this is not a good solution.  Chairs aren’t designed to be used in place of ladders; they lack the stability needed for any kind of task at height.  Plus, they only have one height setting, so if you can’t get the boost you need from a chair, a step ladders is your best, and safest bet.

Step ladders are also used heavily by builders, decorators and other tradespeople and they are a vital part of the kit for these workers.  Industrial step ladders are often more expensive than those designed for domestic use because they need to meet a number of safety requirements and regulations to be used in the workplace and are therefore constructed to a higher standard.  This is also because the ladder will be in near constant use and subject to heavier loads than a step ladder in the home would be.

The Titan range of heavy duty aluminium Builders steps spans from three to twelve rung heights, giving a lot of choice to the buyer.  It might be hard knowing which height ladder to invest in, but taking a quick look back at the average working heights from the past month will give you a good indication of how tall your step ladder needs to be.  A good middle ground is to have a short step ladder of say, three to five treads, and a taller one of six to ten treads.  Of course, you don’t need to be at the top of the ladder every time you use it, so even a taller ladder is useable in place of a three or four tread step ladder. They are very reasonably priced and include free delivery, a fact that makes these ladders attractive to the DIY enthusiast as well as professional builders, decorators and carpenters.

Titan also produce a range of heavy duty platform step ladders. The platform step ladder is designed for use where the worker needs a resting place for tools, materials, buckets or paint cans.  The top rung can be used as a handle to steady yourself up the ladder, but should never be used as an additional standing rung.  If your step ladder does not give you enough height, find a taller one!  Buying a taller ladder than you need is never a bad idea, just so long as you can get it in to wherever you need to use it! Most stepladder accidents are caused by people over-reaching from ladders which are too small, you should always be able to hold onto the upper part of the ladder in front of you to steady yourself while working.. There are tool tray accessories available, which clip onto ladders to provide a paint pot tray or just somewhere to keep screws and tools, and these are worth investing in, should you find a regular need to have equipment and tools at hand whilst working up a ladder.

The Titan range of platform steps spans from three to twelve treads, as with their normal step ladder range.  For a taller platform step ladder, built to the same industry standards, take a look at Chase’s heavy duty fourteen and sixteen tread platform steps.  These have double riveted treads, are constructed from strong aluminium alloy (so they are still light for their size) and can take a load of up to 27 stone.  The tallest sixteen tread model has a platform height of thirteen feet; anything higher and a more sturdy, work platform type solution is needed.

Titan also produce a range of medium duty step and platform ladders, which are built to industrial standards but are cheaper because they are not constructed for heavy, continuous use.

For large scale industrial use (for example in warehouses and large commercial construction jobs) there is the Lyte range of extra wide heavy duty aluminium step ladders.  These are available in heights from three to eight treads and have a large working platform that allows the person up the ladder to move around much more than on normal platform step ladders. A chain over the top of the handrails provides security behind the worker, preventing them from slipping off backwards.  The extra wide treads, stability and solid construction of these heavy duty platform steps make them ideal for jobs that a normal step ladder would not be suitable for, as the extra space and freedom to reach means the steps do not have to be moved as often to complete the task at hand.  When the steps do need to be moved they can be wheeled about on the two castors mounted to the rear of the ladder.  When the ladder is back in the upright position the wheels are off the ground and the step will not move.

We have looked at Little Giant ladders a few times before, especially when the celebrated founder, Hal Wing, died earlier this year.  His legacy, the Little Giant Ladder System, offers two very versatile step ladders, the Little Giant Safety Steps and the Little Giant Select Step.

Little Giant Safety Steps are available in heights of two, three or four treads, with the two tread model having a slightly more lightweight construction (this model does not have the moulded handrail that features on the three and four tread models; instead it has a simple metal handle). The treads are all extra wide and have a special non slip surface, making them ideal for use outside and in wet conditions where normal metal treads might pose a risk.  As with all Little Giant ladders, these safety steps feature the tilt and glide wheels, which are one of the unique features of this ladder system.  These wheels make it easy to move the ladder when it is both folded up and deployed, meaning there’s no need to pick up and carry the steps; an ideal solution for people with poor upper body strength or difficulty carrying things.

The Little Giant Select Steps are closer to the Little Giant Ladder system than the safety steps, offering a step ladder solution at multiple heights.  Both sides of the ladder have rungs, and these extendable sides mean that the ladder can be used on stairs as well as flat ground.  At the moment, Midland Ladders is offering the tool deck and handrail attachment for this ladder for free, which is a great deal, especially if working with tools, paint and other equipment is a concern when choosing a ladder.  Although the Little Giant ladders are more expensive than other ladders, with the Select Steps you get several types of ladder in one, with over twenty different configurations, all of which are easy to set up with the well designed adjusting and locking system that sets Little Giant apart.  The Select Steps have an integrated platform for extra safety and comfort while working up the ladder for long periods of time, and wide, serrated treads that make climbing the ladder easy and safe.  The tilt and glide wheels make moving the ladder simple, even when it is set up for use. This means that for painting and decorating jobs you really can’t beat this ladder for quality and suitability.  As a domestic ladder, this is a good investment piece, as you’ll probably never need to buy another ladder, given the versatility and multiple applications that this ladder is capable of.

We have looked at a variety of step ladders and hopefully given you some insight into what type of step ladder is right for different jobs and different people.  For domestic use, there are fewer regulations regarding their use as the ladders are not going to be in regular use like they are in the construction trade.  However, if a domestic ladder will be used fairly regularly (for example, DIY enthusiasts and amateur property developers) then investing in a sturdier trade standard ladder makes sense, as it will withstand a lot of use, wear and tear.  For most domestic users, who are mainly using the ladder to reach high places (shelves, light fittings), then a normal, non-trade step ladder is perfectly fine.  For versatility and reliability, it has to be the Little Giant Select Steps.  Even if the initial investment seems like a lot, there will be no need to buy other ladders for other jobs, and it is a good one to be able to lend to friends and neighbours for the occasional job that requires a specialist ladder.