Wood ladder service life

[JDgreen]

I have several type 3 (household duty) wood stepladders that are 20 years old. They have never been exposed to weather or used for any purpose other than what a ladder should be used for, and never overloaded. A friend who is a painter by trade saw one of them and commented on the age (I always mark the purchase date on ladders) and told me they were brittle enough after 20 years that they were unsafe.

They have probably been used a total of maybe 40-60 hours at most during the 20 year period (each ladder) so how many of you think they should be discarded and replaced? Thanks.

 

[RobertBrown]

I think perhaps it's a bigger issue for the painter because he is not the only person using a ladder. If a ladder is being used in a comercial application with several different people using it, or it sits on a job and there is a chace that someone from another trade might grab it for a few minutes. These people may not be aware of it's limitations, fall off of it and then you have a liability issue that could have been avoided for 50-75$(assuming it's a 6' or smaller).
I think you will agree that as a ladder ages it get less stable, the joints loosen and the higher you get the further it will sway. You know how your ladder sway's. Someone else might use it, climb to the top and loose balance as they were expecting a more stable ladder, to them it's not safe.
If you are the only one using the ladder and you find it acceptable, then quite simply, it is. I'm sure you are aware if someone else falls from it, you could be held liable, but that could happen with a brand new ladder.
I've got a 4' ladder that I cut down from a 6'. Some people might say it's un safe, some may say it's dangerous. I say it's my ladder and I should probably replace it:ashamed:. Ladders are like tires, at some point they are going to fail, the time to replace them is before that happens...your call.

 

[Rawlings]

I agree with RobertBrown. Wouldn't the ladders show some kind of signs if they are wearing out? It sounds as if you have taken good care of them so I would stick with checking them regularly and then think about replacing them as the need arises.