Ladders and scaffolding towers for finishing and construction work
A ladder fails you once. After that either the ladder's gone or your health is. That's the difference between buying by load rating and buying by price.
A-frame (step ladder) - medium interior heights: painting a 2.7-3m ceiling, changing light fittings, installing drywall. Aluminium is light at 5-8kg, easy to move between rooms. One rule: don't lean an A-frame against a wall - it destabilises.
Telescopic ladder - compact to transport, extends to 3.0-4.5m for high ceilings, exterior work and first-floor facade. Check each locking section before you climb - if it doesn't click firmly, stay down.
Mobile scaffold tower - for extended work at the same height: plastering a facade, painting a long wall, installing decorative ceiling. More stable than a ladder when both hands are busy. Lock the castors, never move the tower with someone on it.
Material: aluminium - light, corrosion-resistant, standard for interior and exterior. Fibreglass - heavier but electrically insulating, required for electricians and any work near live cables.
Load rating: 100-120kg (person + tools + material). Check the label before buying. Work under capacity - 80kg on a 100kg ladder is safer than 99kg.
An A-frame 1.5-1.8m tall (8-10 steps) gives a working height of 2.0-2.4m - enough for a 2.8m ceiling without working with arms raised above the head. A 2.0m ladder is more versatile if people of different heights share it.
Aluminium - lighter and cheaper, suitable for finishing, painting and installation. Fibreglass - heavier but electrically insulating, required near electrical cables or distribution boards. No electrical work involved? Aluminium is the practical choice.
Decades with proper use - no impacts, no overloading. Check periodically: step rivets not loose, hinges open and lock firmly, non-slip feet pads not worn. Any play in the hinge joint means don't climb.
Yes, with correct angle. Right angle: 75 degrees from vertical, meaning 1 metre base distance for every 4 metres of height. Ground under the feet level and stable. Never on one foot or on wet concrete.
A mobile tower with 1.2 x 0.6m platform covers standard apartment work. Working height 2.5-3.5m. Dismantles easily and passes through an 80cm door if the frame diagonals aren't oversized.
