Can you store Aluminium ladders outside? Heres the right way!
I have been finishing off some DIY projects to tidy my property ready for winter, this included using my Aluminium ladders to clear my guttering, I normally keep them outside.
As was putting them away I considered if they should go in the garage or stay outside, so I look to see if Aluminium ladders can be stored outside here’s what I found out:
Aluminum ladders can be stored outside because Aluminium doesn’t corrode or rust. Ladders should be stored off the ground and need to be regularly inspected to check for damage or corrosion, especially the plastic feet or any steel parts. Keep Ladders stored outside safe by fitting high-security locks.
Having confirmed that you can store aluminum ladders outside I also found out how to store them properly so they will last for a lot longer take a look and find out how to keep your aluminum ladders stored and keep them safe.
Why Are ladders made from Aluminium?
Aluminium or Aluminum has several properties that make it ideal for making equipment like ladders which are often used outside, these include:
- Low density making it lightweight
- High strength
- Natural passivation making it Corrosion-resistant so it won’t rust
- Easy to form or extrude into shapes like ladder rungs and stiles
- Can be welded making joints easy and strong
Types of Aluminium ladder?
Ladders come in all sorts of different types and sizes, and which one you use will depend on the access you require, a short aluminum step ladder will be perfect for reaching low ceilings inside
However to reach high areas like roofs or gutters an extension ladder will be required.
Extension ladders are made up of sections normally 1,2 or 3. Each ladder section is constructed from several parts:
Stiles (the sides)
Rungs (the steps)
Feet (at each end)
Ladder duty and grades:
Aluminum extension ladders are available in different duties depending on their intended use in they are:
- Non-professional or Domestic for light home use
- Professional for regular trade use
- Professional Industrial for regular industrial use
- Heavy-duty industrial for high industrial use.
All of these aluminium ladders should be manufactured to the latest standards in the UK they are covered by BS-EN131-2 and in the US they are covered by ANSI-ASC 14.2-2017
In the US Aluminum ladders are also graded from light duty to Extra Heavy-duty, here are the 5 duty rating categories:
|
Category |
Duty |
Load Rating |
|
Type IAA |
Extra Heavy Duty |
350 lbs |
|
Type IA |
Extra Heavy Duty |
300 lbs |
|
Type I |
Heavy Duty |
250 lbs |
|
Type II |
Medium Duty |
225 lbs |
|
Type III |
Light Duty |
200 lbs |
How to store ladders outside?
Aluminium ladders are fine to store outside so long as they are kept off the ground which helps keep them clean.
Using Ladder brackets (Amazon Link) attached to a solid structure like a well-supported fence, wall, or shed means that Aluminium ladders can be stored safely off the ground and out of the way.
Ladder brackets should be fixed into a solid support, as Ladders can weigh quite a lot, I would use stainless steel bolts, with Hex nuts and washers or heavy-duty stainless steel screws as these will withstand wet and cold weather conditions and are made for use outdoors.
When choosing brackets to store aluminum ladders outside look for brackets that can be padlocked closed.
Ladders should be well supported and any brackets rated to carry the load of the ladder.
2 brackets are often enough to support aluminum ladders but for longer sections, additional brackets should be fitted and spaced evenly along the length of the ladder, this will help to stop bowing and keep your ladder in good condition.
Using a good heavy-duty lock (Amazon Link) to secure the ladders will help deter criminals from stealing them. The last thing anyone wants is to buy a good set of aluminum ladders and then have someone else walk off with them.
If possible when you store Aluminum ladders outside keep them covered with a waterproof tarpaulin or under a lean-to, this helps to keep ladders clean and stops water or frost attacking any other parts, like the feet which are often plastic.
How much space do you need to store a ladder?
The amount of space needed to store aluminum ladders will depend on the size of the ladder you have.
A short, single-section(Amazon Link) ladder will take up very little space and can often be stored in a garage, workshop, or shed.
Ladders used for reaching high areas (Amazon Link) like the apex of roofs can be very long and made up of several sections, typically ladders over 5 meters or 15 feet long have 3 sections
The table below shows how long Aluminium ladders are and shows the size, number of sections, and their weights:
Domestic/light use aluminium Ladders:
|
Extended Length |
Closed Length |
Ladder Weight |
No of Sections |
No of Rungs per section |
Max Load |
|
3.3m (10’ 8”) |
2.2m (7’ 2”) |
8.5kg (19lb) |
2 |
7 |
150kg (330lb) |
|
4.4m (14’ 5”) |
2.7m (8’ 10”) |
10.5kg (23lb) |
2 |
9 |
150kg (330lb) |
|
5.5m (18’) |
3.2m (10’ 5” |
13.5kg (30lb) |
2 |
11 |
150kg (330lb) |
|
6.6m (21’ 7”) |
3.8m (12’ 5”) |
18kg (40lb) |
2 |
13 |
150kg (330lb) |
|
7.8m (25’ 7”) |
4.4m (14’ 5”) |
22kg (48lb) |
2 |
15 |
150kg (330lb) |
|
4.4m (14’ 5”) |
2.2m (7’ 2”) |
13.5kg (30lb) |
3 |
7 |
150kg (330lb) |
|
6.1m (20’) |
2.7m (8’ 10”) |
20.5kg (45lb) |
3 |
9 |
150kg (330lb) |
|
7.8m (25’ 7”) |
3.3m (10’ 9”) |
26kg 57lb) |
3 |
11 |
150kg (330lb) |
How long do aluminium ladders last?
Aluminum ladders can last indefinitely, they do not have an expiry date and as long as you look after them and treat them well, they should last for decades.
Because of the properties of aluminum, these ladders will survive working and being stored outside.
However, Aluminum can crack or deform if subject to an impact and aluminum ladders with damage can be unsafe and should be replaced.
So if you drop something heavy like a hammer or knock an Aluminium ladder against something hard it may need to be checked and possibly replaced.
It is also better to buy a new ladder than try to repair one as the repair could become a weak point and fail again in the future.
I also recommend buying ladders new rather than second-hand, as you may never know if a ladder has been dropped or damaged and I would rather pay a little bit extra for a warranty and to know that it is safe, here’s a link to new ladders on Amazon to help
How to check a ladder?
Generally speaking, domestic ladders are used whenever needed and not everyone bothers to check the condition or theirs before using them, but taking just five minutes before climbing to the top could prevent an accident.
There a couple of methods for checking or inspecting ladders the are:
- A thorough Detailed visual check should be carried out by a competent person. Normally this kind of inspection is outlined by the manufacturer and can be found in the instruction manual.
- Pre-use checks, which everyone should do before starting a task or climbing. These checks should be carried out every time something changes – like moving the ladder to work in a different area or it being hit or dropped.
The ladder association has a checklist that is approved by the Health & Safety Executive, the list covers the most important things to inspect when carrying out a pre-use check.
- Stiles must be in good condition as bent or split stiles could lead to a collapse
- Make sure feet are not worn, damaged, dirty, or missing, or else the ladder could slip.
- Confirm the rungs are not bent, missing, or loose to keep your ladder stable
- Make sure the locking bars work and are not bent, worn, or damaged or the ladder could collapse
- Make sure treads are not contaminated or slippery
- Make sure platforms on stepladders aren’t split or buckled as it may lead to instability or collapse
- Check steps on stepladders and make sure fixings aren’t loose or else the ladder may collapse
It is also recommended that if your ladder is dirty, give a good clean. Dirt can hide cracks or splits in aluminum ladders and the dirt itself can make the rungs slippery with the potential to cause an accident.
For more ideas and tips on looking after items that you might store outside, check out our post on caring for Cast Iron garden furniture, just follow the link below:
This article was written by: Richard Quinton – The DIY Help Desk Owner, Engineer & technical specialist.
Richard is one of the key partners in The DIY Help Desk team. He is a qualified Engineer, writer, and publisher, educated to Master’s level. He is a keen advocate of DIY and home improvements.
Richard enjoys helping others to learn new skills and reach their goals and believes that passing his knowledge and experience on through his writing is an effective way to positively impact the lifestyles and well-being of others on a larger scale.
