Whether you're a DIY enthusiast or a professional tradesperson, a multi purpose ladder is a valuable piece of kit for your arsenal. Like their name suggests, multi purpose ladders can be used in a variety of different ways, making them one of the most cost-effective, versatile ladder options on the market. Multi purpose ladders can commonly be used in the following configurations (although some multi purpose ladders have even more uses!):

• Step ladder - perfect when you're working at low levels or when you need your ladder to be freestanding
  
  
• Extension ladder - ideal when you need to reach up high, this ladder configuration will need to be leant against a wall
  
  
• Work platform - giving you valuable extra low-level space to work when you're doing odd jobs like painting and decorating
  
  
• Stairwell ladder - providing maximum stability while you complete jobs on un-even ground & stairs

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You may have seen this big banner on our homepage, that's because we're currently offering 10% off our ladders for Father's day! Ok, you might be asking yourself - what kind of dad want's a ladder for Father's day? But trust us when we say there are a lot of DIY-mad Dads out there who would love nothing more than a handy ladder to help them get re-inspired for a summer of DIY around the house!

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When it comes to working at height, there is a lot of equipment to choose from that keeps you safe whilst on the job. From ladders to hop-ups and to steps and work platforms. But some of the most popular height safety products that is widely used across a variety of industries that work at height is a scaffold tower and more specifically, 3T scaffold towers. 

But what are they? And what makes them different to other scaffold towers? In this blog, we take a closer look at 3T scaffold towers, how they differ from other towers and some of the 3T scaffolds that are available to buy right here from Ladders UK Direct! 

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Looking for a high-quality roof ladder for a reasonable price? We have just the thing! This Super-Trade Double Section Roof Ladder is now better than 20% OFF!

But what makes this roof ladder different from the rest? Well, it's made of tough (yet lightweight) aluminium & steel which means it's easy to move around and won't rust. It features a heavy-duty roof hook and a sturdy aluminium crossbar that gives plenty of strength and stability while you work.

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In their rawest forms, ladders are a set of steps (or rungs) joined together by a pole on either side. For centuries, ladders have been a simple yet effective climbing tool, used all over the world in construction, agriculture and around the home. There are a lot of things that wouldn't have existed if it wasn't for the humble ladder, so today we're going to take a deep dive into the history of ladders. If you want to join us for a trip back in time, just keep reading!

Ladders date back such a long time that it's hard to pinpoint the exact time or century that they were invented. That being said, the earliest evidence of ladders that we have can be found in the Spider Caves in Valencia, Spain. Here, you will find a painting of a ladder that's been etched on to the Mesolithic rock for over 10,000 years! The ladder in question appears to be flexible, made of tightly bound grass or plant material, and is being used by two men to access a honeybee nest to collect honey. 

While 10,000 years may seem like a long time to us, there's a lot of research that suggests ladders have been used for much longer than this. Lots of researchers suggest that both ancient Hebrew and Egyptian people will have used ladders to carry out a range of different tasks. Without them, we may not have some of the beautiful ancient architecture, like the Pyramids, that we are able to study today. Ladders were even mentioned in the Bible by Jacob, who dreamt of a ladder that reached from earth to Heaven. 

Skipping forwards a few thousand years, and we can see when the first patent for a folding wooden step ladder came into existence. This patent was obtained by an American man called John H. Balsley on the 7th January 1862. Thanks to Mr Balsley, foldable ladders which could be easily transported from place to place became widely available. This made it much easier for people to pack up their height access equipment and travel with it.

For a long time, the only ladders that people could build or buy were made of natural materials like wood. Widespread use of aluminium ladders didn't happen until the early 19th century. Prior to this, there was no way for ladder manufacturers of extracting enough aluminium out of the ground! For a long time, aluminium was higher in value than gold, but nowadays, aluminium ladders are easy to get hold of and won't cost you an arm and a leg.

Modern-Day Ladders

Nowadays, you can buy ladders of all different shapes, sizes and materials. Whether you need a simple wooden ladder or a sophisticated, non-conductive glass-fibre ladder, there'll be something on the modern-day market to suit your needs. 

Here at Ladders UK Direct, we offer all kinds of ladders that are suitable for both trade and domestic jobs. If you've been living in the past and using a simple wooden ladder, it might be time to drag yourself into the 21st century and invest in a lightweight, long-lasting ladder that you can rely on. Don't worry, you won't find any grass ladders here!

Extension Ladders >     Step Ladders >     Scaffold Towers >

Read More: How to Calculate the Ladder Length You Need

 As always, if you have any questions, don't hesitate to give a member of the Ladders UK Direct team a call on 01446 789538. We'll help you find the ladder you need at a great price!