As the title really - I am looking into buying an extension ladder for use at home, as with most things I research them to death and often confuse myself with the detail. Can someone who regularly uses ladders please explain the following please.

2 sections or 3 sections - if the extended height is the same, is it better to go for 2 or 3 sections or is this purely a storage / transportation consideration.

There are some standards which I dont fully understand - EN131 seems to be applicable to trade use ladders, while the domestic ladders comply with BS2037. Is it better to buy a 'professional use' ladder - what are the differing requirements to meet these standards?

Any general advice, or recommendation on brands would be appreciated.

It's Saturday night and you are agonizing over the minutia of stepladder standards?

Agree with Tony...

You need a

That said.

If the ladders extend to the same height then it stands to reason that the 2 section will store down slimmer but longer and the 3 section will store down thicker and shorter.

Personal preference I guess

Do you want long and thin or short and thick?

im a builder and own several ladders, its basically down to your needs, if its not going to get heavy use dont buy a trade one but also check the weight rating on it as most non trade ladders are around 15stone rating (no good for me 6ft4 and 19stone) also 3 and 2 section ladders vary in height so work out what its used for and select the right height then can you store a 2 if not get the 3, but all in all be sure to check the weight rating as you will be supprised by hoe low they are,.,

i use triple set ladders daily (aerial and sat installer) and we have atrade and i feel alot safer on trade ladders compared to the others , alot more studier but also alot heavier.

personally if i was buying i would go for these , if it's just diy on the house these would reach to the gutter on a average house.

most ladders are coded by colour of their feet these have yellow which is for daily use but they're alot stronger and last you longer

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/13615/...Ladder-ELT235#

also one of these would give you a bit more stability once up
http://www.screwfix.com/prods/29679/...dder-Stand-Off

that link contains virus's

I`ve got a double extending ladder and it`s fine untill I want to go to the top gutters (which isn`t very often cos I hate heights) Trying to extend a double ladder the full extent is difficult. I wish, in hindsight that I`d got a triple

deleted (sorry, thought you wanted a loft ladder! must read the post properly....)

A triple ladder will be stronger in that it will have less bending leverage on the join sections.

Les

Thanks for the constructive comments folks. Spent a few quid today with Midland ladders - bought a triple section, 8.6m BSEN131 compliant trade ladder in the end. Got some safety feet in the deal and bought a locking hanger to keep it from being nicked, and the stand-off bracket as advised.

I'll get the wife to post some pics, when I have fallen off it!!!!

Its painful falling off them...as I found out!

Les

Got mine from here, excellent prices and service, even personally delivered the ladder into my garage while I was out (they are fairly local though). Went for a trade ladder as it looked more sturdy and I'm over 15st. Triple as it was easier to store.

http://www.midlandladders.com/catalo...dders-7-1.html

Cheers CD - good to know the quality is present, not 15st just yet, but heading that way.

here here i will second that