Interesting Facts About Ladders
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Ladders have been around for about 10,000 years!
Rock paintings in Spain’s Cuevas de la Arana (known to English speakers as the Spider Caves) suggest that humans were using ladders to reach high places even in prehistoric times.
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The world’s longest ladder is more than 40 metres long.
The Handwerks Museum in Austria created the world’s longest ladder, as certified by Guinness World Records. The ladder is made of wood, has 120 rungs, and measures just over 41 metres.
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The first step ladder was invented by John H. Balsley in 1892.
He designed a model with hinges that enabled users to fold the ladder up for easy transportation and storage.
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Ladders are mentioned in the Bible.
Jacob’s ladder, which features in chapter 28 of Genesis, is considered by Christians to be a symbol of the divine connection between God and the Earth.
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The Devil’s Tower Ladder is the only ladder on the National Historical Register.
On July 4 1893, Rogers and Ripley were watched by over 1000 spectators as they climbed the 350ft summit.
No matter your project, we have a ladder that suits your needs and your safety.
For expert advice or any questions you may have, do not hesitate to contact us at 01446 789 538.
When it comes to choosing the right kind of ladder for a job, you might find yourself asking - is an extension ladder better than a straight ladder? It really depends on your circumstances. Let us help you find the answer!
1. How high do you need to reach?
If you're looking to complete a job at a relatively low level, a straight ladder might be the best option for you. Most of our straight ladders reach up to 5 meters, so you'll easily be able to complete first and second-storey jobs - that's why they're so popular with our domestic buyers. However, if you need to work at a height of 5 to 10 metres off the ground, an extension ladder is going to be your new best friend.
2. How much storage space do you have?
When the storage space you have available is long and narrow (for example, down the side of your garage), we'd recommend you buy a straight ladder. These fixed-length ladders have a very thin profile but cannot be collapsed, so a longer, narrow storage space is ideal. If you don't have space to store a straight ladder, our extension ladders are generally more compact and shorter in length once they're in the 'closed' position. However, they can be quite bulky compared to our straight ladders, so keep that in mind if you only have narrow storage space to work with.
3. Will you need to travel with your ladder?
If you work in a trade it's likely that you'll need to fit yourself and all of your equipment into your work van in order to travel from job to job. Our extension ladders can easily fit into the back of most vans and cars, making them ideal if you're someone who spends a lot of time on the road. Our fixed straight ladders can be a little trickier to travel with. Most people resort to attaching them to the outside of the van (eg. via a roof rack) so that they make it from job to job in one piece.
4. Do you have any special requirements?
For more complex jobs, for example, where electrics are involved, you may need a ladder made of a certain material, eg. wood or fibreglass. Our straight ladders come in wood, aluminium, steel and fibreglass. Our extension ladders come in aluminium, steel or fibreglass. We always recommend that you read the specifications of your chosen ladder carefully, that way you can guarantee that your chosen ladder is fit for purpose.
If you're still unsure whether an extension or straight ladder is right for you, why not drop us an email? Our sales team will be able to guide you in the right direction.
Shop Extension Ladders > Shop Straight Ladders >
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