Fiberglass Ladders May Be Your Best Choice For Home Projects

Ladders date back 10,000 years, and surprisingly enough, the basic design really has not changed from the original.  A rock painting on a cave wall in Valencia, Spain was found and it shows two naked people carrying bags up a long wobbly ladder made of grass and branches.  They attempting to reach a honeybee nest to, most likely, to harvest honey. 

On Janary 7th of 1862 the first patent for a ladder was granted to John H. Balsey of Dayton, Ohio.  While we have many new features compared to John Balsey’s version, the basics of two frames holding steps together, still make up a ladder.  Our ladders today are much safer and sturdy, being made of wood, aluminum, steel or fiberglass versus grass and branches. 

Fiberglass ladders have an advantage over other materials due to its resistance to electricity.   This makes these ladders safer to use around power lines.  Aluminum ladders are highly conductive, making them the least safe.  Fiberglass also offers more consistency than wood, which could vary in quality in certain areas, weakening the entire ladder.  Remember the motto, that you are only as strong as your weakest link, or in this case, your weakest rung!

Fiberglass ladders are more weather resistant and do not absorb moisture or weaken in the sun.  Being a flame resistant material, fiberglass is a choice among firemen.  Even though it may scorch or ignite in direct heat, such as a fire, it self extinguishes after being removed from the heat source. 

When choosing a ladder the two qualities that matter most is strength and safety.  Some ladders reach great heights and a fall from a ladder can result in serious injury.  Many professions require the use of the ladder to perform the necessary functions of the job.  Having a safe and secure ladder offer peace of mind to the workers and the employers.  Most home owners have at least one ladder and statistically account for more ladder related injury than professionals due to the fact that the average person tries to skimp on their ladders.

Fiberglass ladders are a great choice for weekend warriors and professionals alike.  Where in the past we only had limited materials to build a ladder, fiberglass offers the best of all worlds.  Ladders made of this material are light like aluminum ladders but do not conduct electricity like aluminum.  They are sturdy like wood, but do not have as many weak points or vulnerability to fire and weather elements.  When choosing a ladder, it is best to determine your needs and choose the safest ladder possible.