Telescopic ladders are the perfect option for homeowners, DIY enthusiasts and professional alike. They take up next to no space when not in use, so they can be easily stored, transported and positioned but then can extend beyond the reach of a standard ladder when they are opened!
We’ll be honest – when we first saw a pair of telescopic ladders we didn’t entirely trust them. But, after reading up on the technology behind them we were impressed! They shrink down to an average of around 50 inches, so can easily be stored in a garage, shed or even under your stairs, but can extend to massive heights enough for you to use them on a whole host of jobs!
Safety is key when considering a telescopic ladder – so we created this article with all the key features you need to look out for!
Only Got 5 Minutes?
If you are needing to purchase some telescopic ladders and quick, then this section of the article is for you – containing all the main pieces of information that you could need before going and buying a set of ladders that are right for you.
What Do I Need To Consider?
There are a few main things that need to be considered before purchasing a telescopic ladder. We have provided details of these below to help you make the right purchase.
- ➤ Premium Quality: The corrosion-resistant and high-quality aluminum construction make this telescopic ladder safer, lighter, more reliable and achieve longer service life. The heavy-duty ladders can withstand heavy loads up to 330 pounds/ 150 Kilogram.
- ➤ Space Saving Extendable Ladder: It's very compact when completely folded and can be very easily extended in stages up to the full height of 3.2m/10.5ft. Folded size: 82cm x 49cm x 8.5cm; Fully extended size: 320cm x 49cm x 8.5cm.
- ➤ Reliable & Safety Use: The 3.2m ladder has anti-slip rubber feet and rubber sleeve on every step, which can hold the ladder firmly in place and further enhance overall safety. Secure the ladder with the strap equipped, user can carry the ladder with only one hand.
- ➤ Wide Application: Perfect for indoor housework and outdoor activities, such as window cleaning, garden working, reaching the top of the camper van and more. It can be used as a stepladder, attic, loft ladder.
- ❤️ Please Note: When standing on the loft ladder, the total weight of the user and the tools carried should not exceed 330lb/150kg. Before using this aluminium telescopic ladders, please read the instructions carefully.
Last update on 2024-04-28 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
Maximum Weight Capacity
This is the maximum weight that the ladders can carry safely. It is rare to come across a telescopic ladder that won’t hold more than enough weight to safely hold an average person. However, it is also rare that you will be going up a ladder without anything to carry! Whether it be tools, materials, or belongings this will all add to the maximum weight that is going to be on your ladders at one time. Choose a maximum ladder weight that will cover more than you and whatever you are going to be taking up your ladders with you. The average maximum weight capacity that we have found is around 300lbs, however, some do go up to as much as 350lbs.
Price
The price of telescopic ladders varies considerably depending on what you are looking for. Avoid models that look considerably cheaper than the rest, they are usually too good to be true and won’t last as long as others, or be as safe! For a reasonable set of telescopic ladders, you should expect to pay between £80 and £200.
Safety Ratings
The most important thing to think about is your safety, especially when your telescopic ladder is at full height! Make sure that your ladder is in line with all UK safety legislation, such as an EN 131 certificate. Many manufacturers will also offer an EU Certificate of Ladder Safety. It is important to check that the safety legislations offered are relevant to UK law, as different countries have different safety standards. Although these are not necessary requirements, unless you are planning on using your ladder for commercial use, it is certainly something that we would recommend for your safety.
Extended Height
The extended height is the maximum height that the telescopic ladders will go to. Although not always possible – measure (or estimate!) the maximum height that you are going to need your telescopic ladders to go to and then add another few inches so that you can be sure your ladder will be able to stay firmly in place. Everyday household telescopic ladders rarely go above 16ft in height, due to the safety considerations that are needed for greater heights. However, if you have the budget for it, then there are models that will go up to 24ft, but these are considerably more expensive and much more technical to use.
Foldaway Size
As a general rule, the larger the telescopic ladders extend to, the larger they will be when they are folded away. If you are thinking of buying telescopic ladders then presumably you are wanting them for their compact design, therefore choosing a model that will fold away as small as possible is important. Make sure to weigh up both the extended height and the foldaway size to find a ladder that is going to be right for you. The smallest foldaway size that we have found is just over 30 inches. Although this is still not particularly small, it is smaller than a full-size ladder, will take up much less room in your shed or garage, and could even be transported in your car – so that you can take your ladders with you when you get roped into doing DIY for other people!
Ease of use
This is something that really should not be forgotten when considering your telescopic ladder purchase. A set of ladders that are difficult to pack away afterwards, or that are cumbersome and difficult to carry, will quickly become just as irritating as full-size ladders! Many makes will simply collapse into themselves, but look out for models with smooth movements both in and out, and easy to use safety catches. Finally, look for lighter models that are made out of aluminium and plastic, which will be easier to carry. Some of the lightest models weigh as little as 20lbs, so easy enough to transport between jobs!
How Do I Know If a Telescopic Ladder Is Right For Me?
To be honest, there aren’t many people for which a telescopic ladder wouldn’t be right! They are much easier to transport than full-size ladders, saving time and energy when getting the ladders to where they need to be (no more chipped wallpaper or paint up your stairs and landing every time you try to manoeuvre the full-size ladders up to them!).
Equally, even people with a huge garage or storage space, do not want ladders that are taking up more room than necessary, as this can lead to a cluttered and potentially unsafe space.
Even people who are drawn towards the traditional A-frame design of ladder that can be erected anywhere, do not need to miss out when it comes to telescopic ladders. There are now models of telescopic ladders that have been created that fold out into an A-frame design as well – so they really can be taken and used anywhere!
The only time we would really recommend anything other than a telescopic ladder, is for particularly large or dangerous jobs!
- 【Adjustable Height】Multi-Purpose A-Frame Ladder, Adjustable from 3ft to 16.5ft. The added two rolling casters help you to easily carry this ladder. This Extension ladder can be used as A-Frame ladder 2.5m+2.5m or a 5m straight ladder for roof, attic stairs.
- 【Extension & Retraction Design】Easily stored in everywhere, extends and gather rung by rung quickly and easily. This ladder can be stored in / under / behind the cabinet, under the bed, behind the door, or put on your car boot.
- 【Premium Aluminum Ladder】Telescopic ladder is made of premium quality aluminum alloy, which is corrosion resistant, rust resistant, and long service life. Manufactured to the highest standard, this telescopic ladder conforms to EN131 standards. The max load capacity of the telescopic ladder is up to 150kg / 330lbs. Net weight about 18.2kg/40lbs.
- 【Safe to Use】High quality rubber feet for extra stability and grip and stable locking key between two neighbouring steps to avoid bumping and friction. Come with a stabiliser bar to make it more stable. With rolling casters, easy to move.
- 【Multi Purpose】 This extending ladder is perfect for indoor housework and outdoor activities, such as home/building maintenance, gutters cleaning, window cleaning, replacing light bulbs, garden work, indoor/outdoor decoration, painting walls, cleaning motorhome roof, and so on.
Last update on 2024-04-28 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
Safety Tips for Using Telescopic Ladders
Climbing up any ladder can be dangerous if you are not careful, but this is most definitely the case when using ladders that have the potential to fold away on you when in use! Make sure to always follow our safety tips below to get the most out of using your telescopic ladder and stay safe.
- Always read the instruction manual for your telescopic ladder before use.
- Check that the rungs and feet of the ladders are all secure and safe before stepping onto the ladder.
- Make sure that the safety locks are all in place and locked (also be sure to not accidentally touch any of the mechanisms when using the ladder as they could be knocked out of place).
- Place the ladder against a secure, unmoving surface. Make sure that the telescopic ladder is placed at a slight angle, with the feet safe on the floor.
- Always use your ladder on a surface that is not slippery. Most ladders have anti-slip, rubber feet, so in general, you should be fine. However, on a particularly slippery surface, we would definitely recommend putting something underneath the feet – it’s always better to be safe than sorry.
If wanting to take extra care that your telescopic ladders are secured in place before use, then look out for models with colour coded safety locks. Some have red and green colours to show when you have secured each “level” into place correctly.
This video gives a little more guidance on how to safely use a telescopic ladder.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where should I store my telescopic ladders?
We would always recommend storing your telescopic ladders in a clean and dry place. This will help to avoid any rust or unnecessary damage to your tool. This will not only help to make them last longer but also make sure you are as safe as possible when using the telescopic ladders.
Do telescopic ladders come with warranties?
All reputable telescopic ladder manufacturers will offer at least a 12-month warranty with their products, some even go as far as offering a 3-year warranty for true peace of mind.
Do I have to extend my telescopic ladder to full height to use it safely?
No! Always check with each individual model of the telescopic ladder, but with most, you are able to select how high you need your ladder to be for each job, and simply pull out however many rungs of the ladder you need and secure them into place! This is perfect for jobs where there is slightly less space and the fully extended ladder would not fit!
Can you replace parts on a telescopic ladder?
This really depends on what the parts are! It is relatively easy to replace the feet and rungs on most ladders and many manufacturers will allow you to purchase these parts. However, if you are wanting to replace parts linked to the structure of the ladder then you need to be very careful to check that this is done correctly and safely!
Be the first to comment