Modern ladders are usually constructed from three materials: wood, aluminum, or fiberglass. While each type of ladder has its benefits and trade-offs, a fiberglass ladder does have some advantages to consider. Perhaps the biggest advantage it has over its aluminum counterpart is its resistance to electricity. Fiberglass does not conduct electricity, so it is much safer to use around power lines than highly-conductive aluminum. These ladders sometimes use aluminum rungs, but they are kept separate and so electricity cannot travel through the ladder.
A fiberglass ladder is also constructed from man-made material, which gives it an advantage over wooden ladders. Natural materials like wood can have significant variations in quality, so a weaker wooden ladder rung or support beam could fail without warning. Fiberglass beams are uniform and inherently strong. Aluminum may be more consistent than wood, but different manufacturers use different grades of aluminum, and a cheaper ladder could bend under a heavy load.
Many handymen and construction workers find that fiberglass is more resistant to bad weather conditions. Wood ladders can eventually rot after a few cycles of wet and dry exposure. Fiberglass does not absorb moisture or weaken significantly in the sun.
A fiberglass ladder is also flame resistant, making it ideal for firefighters scaling smaller buildings. The material will scorch and briefly flame under a direct heat source, but will self-extinguish after that source is removed. Aluminum ladders may also be more flame resistant than wood, but they can conduct electricity transferred by water.
The main drawback of a fiberglass ladder is weight versus size. Fiberglass is heavier than either wood or aluminum, so it cannot be used in long extension ladders.
These ladders may not be completely problem-free, but they do offer a more durable alternative to natural wood and a safer alternative to conductive aluminum. If height or weight is a serious consideration, then fiberglass may not be the best choice, however. In most circumstances, homeowners do not need extremely tall ladders to perform most chores, so the overall shelf life and inherent strength of a fiberglass ladder may be ideal.
