ladder guide

A Dependable First Ladder


The ladder is a simple device used to gain access to something that would have been previously out of reach. The service provided by a ladder is indispensable as long as they are properly used and cared for. The most commonly used household ladder by far is the wooden ladder. Wood is one of the most abundant natural resources on the planet.

As science has proven, wood is a good conductor of heat and a bad conductor of electricity which makes wood an electrician's best friend. It is also said that wood is the best natural insulator against heat of all materials presently used for ladders. Though wood burns readily, it only burns on the outer surface where oxygen is available.

The strongest part of the wood, the core, remains intact and solid for a significant amount of time when the surface is burning. This is why fire departments originally chose wooden ladders. The main disadvantage of a wooden ladder is that they don't last very long. It is a must to use a protective, clear finish to preserve and increase the longevity of a wood ladder.

A varnish can be a remedy to it as a protective clear finish because it is one of the driest finishes. Sometimes, wood ladders are also coated with oil to preserve the wood. This oil process doesn't always do a good job of preserving the wood because oil finishes can conduct electricity. Even varnish finish is good as long it remains intact. After the finish wears off, the wood gets exposed and the process of drying and splitting starts.

So to prevent this tragedy, it is necessary to check the varnish every six months and it should be re-applied annually to preserve the wood. The lifespan of a wood ladder depends heavily on usage, maintenance, and quality of manufacturing. Therefore, a ladder can last for a few months, a few years, or a few decades.

Whether left outside under the rays of the sun, indoors, or whatever else, the wood ladder requires attention and due care by the user.

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