Extension Ladders: Aluminum Or Fiberglass ?

Philly Dude

What do you prefer and why ? Also what trade are you mostly using it for ?

I have a few of each. I was going to buy only fiberglass from now on and slowly retire my aluminum ones. However since 95% of the time I'm using them for painting I'm thinking that fiberglass is just spending more money unnecessarily.

MALCO.New.York

Glass ALL the Way.

There is NO application that a Glass Ladder can not deal with.

Use an Aluminum in nearly ALL my cases and one is bound to land on the Ground Writhing and Foaming!

Glass IS heavier, but what is a bit of weight when one considers the alternatives???

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Dave R

I use aluminum because they are lighter and I work alone and I am old (53). If I had a helper or was younger I would buy fiberglass.

TBFGhost

A company I worked for had both...it was there I learned I liked Glass.... Heavier, but way more comfortable to work on...

neolitic

I can use glass where I can't
use aluminum, not vice versa.
So.....

They are all too heavy!

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threaderman

6',8' and 24' fiberglass 1a.The safe way is rarely the easiest way.

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sore thumb

aluminum only for me

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MALCO.New.York

In "High Wattage" applications, even a Wood Ladder is susceptible to conductive arc-shock.

Not a "good-thing"!

The moisture content of a Wooden Ladder can kill a man.

In my business, one does not step on to a ladder, one Jumps on to and then climbs.

No chance or "Circuiting" or "Ground Pathing" this way!

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xxwckdxx

glass here

s. donato

i have slowly been switching to glass... its just so much more stable underfoot. yeah more pricey and heavier but i can handle my 24' by myself 90% of the time.

i have also been adding those adjustable leveling feet to all my extension ladders. so much better then looking for a block of wood.

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john5mt

Glass

aluminum flexes way more and moves side to side more than i like

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TempestV

aluminum can be nice for shorter ladders since the extra flex isn't really noticed, and it makes them a bit lighter. However, with longer ladders, the flex becomes a bigger issue, and glass is better, even though the weight difference is bigger.

Magnettica

Fiberglass, obviously. An aluminum ladder could get me killed.

Wolfgang

Almost all of mine are glass. Not that much of a weight difference and they feel more stable. I do have a 16 and 24 aluminum that I use for interior entrys and stairwells. All of mine have adjusters on the legs. Also have a couple ladder pivot tools for the odd steps and slopes. A 13 and 22 MT style I keep around when needed. The guys complain about the weight but they use them all the time.

2ndGen

For Roofing, Aluminum. Always.
Type IA's and up ONLY!

When I worked with my father, we used the old wood ladders.
Beasts! But they didn't last anywhere near as long as aluminum after extensive day in and day out use.

Glass it just unsafe to move around as easily as an Aluminum ladder.

Round here, for residential homes, we have to constantly move the ladders and have to get into tight spaces where the heft of a Glass ladder just won't due.

When working near "lines" while roofing?
Glass.

For Carpentry,
Glass.

My brand of choice (and nothing else will do for me!)?



(I am a 2nd Generation Roofer)

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2ndGen

Sure would Sparky!

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"I've been up on the roof. I know what those guys go through.
My whole life has been about making that profession respectable."
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