[PoleKing]

B&q DIY ladder, lasts years and is lightweight and comfortable, cheap and does a good job, most windys I know use them, a friend of mine has had his for 8 years and it's still going strong!

Your insurance will be null and void if you are using a DIY ladder

Any links to back that up?

Don't have a link no, but I do know a trade ladder, not a DIY one, is required for a window cleaning business.

Whats the difference between a trade ladder and a diy one?
Can you buy a trade ladder from a diy store?

Depending on size and manufacturer around 50 quid!
As B&Q have a trade point, I would imagine so.

I meant more from a legal point of view.
You said you wouldn't be insured on a DIY ladder.
I'm trying to work out how your insurance would be invalidated because a ladder was £50 cheaper than another one?
I get about box frame or h section ladders and the difference there but can't imagine insurance being invalidated because it's h as opposed box.
Unless you know otherwise...?

Aye a know you were meaning from a legal point of view, it was said tongue in cheek
DIY ladders will breach health & safety regulations, so if you had an accident and it was investigated by HSE, it would invalidate any claim for personal injury.
The difference between a DIY and trade ladder is a DIY ladder is built for occasional use in the home, trade ladders are built for regular use and will have a higher load rating

My insurance doesn't say anything about the type of ladder.
Only that it be 'fit for purpose' and in a 'good state of repair'

There lies the problem...They are not 'fit for purpose' if they are not at least BS EN 131 kite marked...which DIY ladders are not.

But surely if you're under the 19.5 stone a class 3 ladder BS certification requires, they are fit for purpose?
Most guys who use ladders I'd imagine are less than the required 18.5 stone therefore they become 'fit for purpose'

[KS Cleaning]

B&q DIY ladder, lasts years and is lightweight and comfortable, cheap and does a good job, most windys I know use them, a friend of mine has had his for 8 years and it's still going strong!

Your insurance will be null and void if you are using a DIY ladder

Any links to back that up?

Don't have a link no, but I do know a trade ladder, not a DIY one, is required for a window cleaning business.

Whats the difference between a trade ladder and a diy one?
Can you buy a trade ladder from a diy store?

Depending on size and manufacturer around 50 quid!
As B&Q have a trade point, I would imagine so.

I meant more from a legal point of view.
You said you wouldn't be insured on a DIY ladder.
I'm trying to work out how your insurance would be invalidated because a ladder was £50 cheaper than another one?
I get about box frame or h section ladders and the difference there but can't imagine insurance being invalidated because it's h as opposed box.
Unless you know otherwise...?

Aye a know you were meaning from a legal point of view, it was said tongue in cheek
DIY ladders will breach health & safety regulations, so if you had an accident and it was investigated by HSE, it would invalidate any claim for personal injury.
The difference between a DIY and trade ladder is a DIY ladder is built for occasional use in the home, trade ladders are built for regular use and will have a higher load rating

My insurance doesn't say anything about the type of ladder.
Only that it be 'fit for purpose' and in a 'good state of repair'

There lies the problem...They are not 'fit for purpose' if they are not at least BS EN 131 kite marked...which DIY ladders are not.

But surely if you're under the 19.5 stone a class 3 ladder BS certification requires, they are fit for purpose?
Most guys who use ladders I'd imagine are less than the required 18.5 stone therefore they become 'fit for purpose'

[/quote. You have mentioned BS certification, so from that you should be able to see that DIY ( class 3 ) ladders are not suitable for trade use, a minimum requirement for trade use is BS EN 131

[paulben]

Don't buy a square rung ladder not as comfortable to stand on.
Do quality telescopic ladders bend when you climb to top I was given one and its horrible use it for getting into loft now

[Ian101]

just ordered a new titan triple 3.5 for gutter cleaning 

[Window Lickers]

Using a B+Q telescopic  ladder to clean out gutters is absolute madness.

Don't buy a square rung ladder not as comfortable to stand on.

+1

[j timms]

Titan 3.5 all day. Diy ladders are not safe.

[PoleKing]

Titan 3.5 all day. Diy ladders are not safe.

Lol

[Rob@Blast off]

Well as it was raining i went down the workshop and using my phd in redneck engineering i shortened my 4.5 titans down to 3.5 as it was just far to heavy to be any real use so i took a meter of the top of the smaller section then the same on the bottom of the other then refitted the safety feet and jobs a good un.

[Jakey boy]

Titan 3.5 all day. Diy ladders are not safe.

Are you joking? DIY ladders are perfectly safe! Been using them for 7 years, no problems at all, very sturdy and very comfortable...

[G Griffin]

Well as it was raining i went down the workshop and using my phd in redneck engineering i shortened my 4.5 titans down to 3.5 as it was just far to heavy to be any real use so i took a meter of the top of the smaller section then the same on the bottom of the other then refitted the safety feet and jobs a good un.

Good jaaaaaab  .

I know of a window cleaner who shortened the extending section by half on his double ladder.
The top half, obviously. I thought it was a good idea if he didn't need all the section by going 'too' high.