A ladder is an upright or slanted series of steps that come in forms that can be leaned against a wall, folded out and up or articulated (jointed) to get into awkward areas. They can be made from fiberglass, wood or aluminum and they come in all kinds of sizes from 2 foot step stools to specialty sized ladders that can extend well over 50 feet. Brands like Concertina, BQ and Werner produce various forms of these portable stairs from the children's wooden step stool to industrial fiberglass telescoping type. They are used for many purposes in many venues from residential to any kind of business. The construction business' form of the ladder also includes scaffolding that you typically see on the sides of buildings. Scaffolding is constructed and used for specific jobs and taken back down when the job is done.
Here are some examples and basic information about the different kinds of ladders used for home or business applications.
*Step Stool - The step stool is typically no more than 4 feet tall with 2 to 4 steps and is used in homes to help reach high cabinets. Smaller step stools are used to allow small children to reach the sink to brush their teeth and wash their hands.
*Step - These fold out to allow a person to do work inside or outside the home or office. They can range from 4 feet to 6 feet in height.
*Extension - This type is made to lean against a wall or other flat surface and can extend well above 6 feet for reaching really high areas like a roof.
*Telescoping - The telescoping style of ladder is unique. It extends from about 2.5 feet and can go up to 15 feet. It is not like the step ladder as it does not fold out, but instead retracts and opens like a telescope.
*Articulating - Articulating ladders are extremely unique. These can be used in awkward areas like stairs. They have various adjustments for various applications because they can joints that can fold and bend around for full functionality.
There's a whole wide wide world of ladders out there for you to research and discover. There's some form of this essential tool that can be used in any home or business. No home or business should be without at least one ladder.
Dave Gorski writes about ladders at: http://www.laddersfacts.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dave_Gorski
