It's almost impossible to carry out any but the most basic do-it-yourself jobs without some access equipment. At the very least you'll need steps for indoor work and an extending ladder for outside or a combination ladder to do both jobs.

Stepladders are perhaps the most useful general-purpose pieces of access equipment in the home. Apart from being used for indoor jobs, you can also reach to about halfway up outside walls, helpful for many maintenance, repair and decorating jobs.

The best types are made from light weight aluminium, which needs no maintenance. They come in a wide range of sizes from a simple two-step hop-up to versions with seven or more treads and a top safety rail which is ideal for jobs like painting ceilings and cleaning windows.

Extension ladders consist of two or three ladder sections that slide over one another usually operated by hand, but occasionally by rope and pulley on larger ladders. The upper section(s) have two hooks attached to the stiles that hook over the rungs of the section beneath when the ladder is extended. There are also guides at the top of the lower sections through which the upper sections slide; these ensure that the sections cannot separate in use.

When choosing a ladder, pick a size that will reach the highest point of your house comfortably with a minimum of three rungs overlap between sections. Consider storage space for the ladder, you may need to go for a triple rather than a double if this is limited. Most extension ladders are made from aluminium nowadays; this has the same advantages as for stepladders, of lightness combined with strength and freedom from maintenance. Timber ladders are still available (but are hard to find), "remember" they do need careful looking after to keep them in good condition. The one advantage of timber is stiffness; poorly made aluminium ladders can flex in use, so be sure to test all ladders before use, as safety comes first !!!

Combination ladders are cunningly hinged stepladders which can be used as steps, with the two halves fixed in the standard A-frame configuration, or as ladders with the two halves brought into line and locked together.

They can also be used with the halves set to unequal lengths, enabling them to be set up on stairs and other uneven surfaces.

These styles of ladders are extremely handy for a number of jobs around the house, and are well worth the investment.

Trade Tip !!!

When purchasing a ladder remember these key points.

• That it is made from good quality materials.
• That all welds and fittings are of a high standard.
• That it is designed to do the job that you require.