Many projects that you get involved in around your house are completed – or made easier – with the aid of a ladder. Has there ever been a time where you felt that a standard ladder just was not enough? A standard ladder limits you in may ways. For maximum assistance, platform ladders are often better choices.
There are many benefits to using a platform ladder instead of a regular ladder.
- Stability
- Weight capacity
- Room
- Portability
- Size/Height
- Frame materials
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Stability
A platform ladder is more stable than a regular ladder. Regular ladders have steps, called rungs, that are not actual steps but more like half steps. For quick tasks, these ladders may be fine but for most projects these rungs, and the ladder as a whole, are not stable. A platform ladder has a wide frame, and the platform section is wide.
Many aspects of the design of platform ladders are there to add stability to the ladder. The wide frame design makes it less likely that your ladder will tip over. The frame also has cross bracing to eliminate twisting while you are using the ladder. In comparison, a standard ladder will either have two feet for a leaning ladder, or four feet for an A-frame ladder, but the frame is not wide to be stable.
Weight Capacity
A standard ladder, regardless of which type, is not designed to hold a large amount of weight. This limits what tools and project materials you can bring up the ladder with you. Platform ladders often have higher weight limits. Their construction and design allow you to keep what you need with you, reducing trips up and down the steps.
Because weight limits are higher for a platform ladder, your productivity is increased, and your safety is protected. If you were to ignore the small weight limits of standard ladders, you can get seriously injured by a collapse in the ladder or the rung you would be standing on. A platform ladder reduces this possibility of injury by being able to hold more weight without compromising your safety.
Room
Standard ladders pose a large problem for even medium sized projects, like painting in your home. You have to keep going down the ladder every few minutes to move it over so that you can access the next section. Regular ladders limit the space you have to move around while you are working. To be safe on a standard ladder, you have to use one hand to hold on, which means you only have one hand to work with. A platform ladder gives you a platform to work on. By design, the platform allows you to work unhindered , with both hands. The extra room helps you work with larger sections as well.
Portability
Many platform ladders are available with portability in mind. They are made to be lightweight. Usually, the fold for easy transporting and storage. They will also have wheels, called castors, so that you do not need to lift the whole platform ladder up to move it over. Other models come apart in sections.
Size/Height
When it comes to a platform ladder, there are many different sizes available. Depending on the height you need, you will find a platform ladder with different number of steps. Most models will have three or four steps on the ladder section, plus the platform section. Other models have more steps to give you more height.
When dealing with sizes, a platform ladder can also vary in width. A general rule for many manufacturers is to make a platform wider with the height. For example, a ladder with six steps will be wider than one with only three steps. In order to be more stable and balanced, a higher platform ladder is going to be wider than a shorter one.
Frame Materials
Similar to standard ladders, platform ladders have frames made from three common materials. Each of these materials has its own specific use. In deciding which type of platform ladder you would most likely need, you should consider the material it is made from.
Generally, an aluminum platform ladder is more readily available and chosen by most homeowners and handymen. In many professions, an aluminum platform ladder is not ideal. For this reason, fiberglass and steel frames are available. A fiberglass frame is used for electrical professions because metal is conductive and dangerous. A steel platform ladder is used for heavy duty professions, like construction because steel is stronger and provides a higher weight limit.
A platform ladder has an odd look. It is not a standard ladder, nor a scaffold. It combines both of these. Actually, the ladder section more closely resembles a set of stairs. The idea of the platform at the top came from scaffolding. A platform ladder provides the height and room to move around more, while the steps provide access to the platform. By combining aspects of both, you get the benefits without the drawbacks.
Safety is Important
Using platform ladders properly is the biggest part of staying safe. Although a platform ladder can be much safer than a standard ladder, they can also be dangerous. There are a few things to remember.
First, your platform ladder should be positioned properly. The back section should be facing what you are working on. It should be close enough to reach comfortably while you are working. You should not have to lean over the rail at any time. You can cause the platform ladder to tip over.
Check the castors before you use the ladder. Platform ladders have castor wheels that have springs. When you step onto the ladder, the springs are compressed to put pressure on the wheels. This makes the platform ladder more stable.
If you have a folding platform ladder, locks are important to your safety. It is not uncommon to have a part of the ladder fold down accidentally. To avoid this problem, make a habit of securing all locks before you step onto the ladder.
Always work on stable ground. Platform ladders are not equipped with independent adjustable legs. You do not have a way to balance the legs on uneven flooring. You can lock the wheels to prevent rolling, but uneven ground can cause the platform ladder to fall.
Finally, there are railings along the perimeter of the platform ladder and should not be ignored. Too many accidents have occurred by people who bypassed the railings. They are there to keep you from falling off the platform and the step areas. Stay within the railings.
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