wooden ladders

[N. Thornton]

Hi

What are the pros and cons of wooden ladders vs aluminium: particularly with a 2 section ladder that can be used as:

single 8 ft ladder

2 section 15ft ladder or stair work platform

I ask cos its about half the price.

Thanks, NT

[Grunff]

They're heaview then aluminium, don't last as long, and don't take abuse as easily.

For long sections, such as my 5m 2 section ladder, a wooden version would simply be too heavy to carry on your own.

[N. Thornton]

Thanks Grunff. This is a 16 footer, 5m, and its no problem to carry - though it is a fair bit heavier than ali. But seeing as I'm not using it day in day out, or lugging it half way round the country, I dont see it as a problem.

It just struck me that almost all ladders sold now are ali, despite the big price difference, so I wondered if there was some 'no' about wood - but I cant find any problem with it.

Thanks, NT

[Andrew Mawson]

An advantage of a wooden ladder is that it will usually give fair warning before failing, and do so with a few creaks and groans, whereas an aluminium ladder (if overloaded) can fail immediately.

That said mines alloy and I've had it 30 years !

Andrew Mawson

[T i m]

[T] Some more thoughs.

Pro: A wooden ladder is less likely to get stolen (no scrap or second user value)

Con: A wooden ladder won't be happy if left outside in the rain for

30 years ..

Con: A wooden ladder is less likely to have special 'feet'.

Con: I wouldn't want to get a wooden ladder up onto a roof.

Con: A wooden ladder is more likely to dent yer car roof whilst getting it on the roofrack!

Pro: It makes a good bonfire when you are fed up with it ;-)

All the best ..

T i m