Best Ladders
The Little Giant Alta-One Model 22-Inch hinge locks and telescoping sides let you safely use the Alta-One as an adjustable extension ladder, A-frame ladder, staircase ladder, and as a trestle-and-plank scaffolding system. Rated to hold up to 250 lbs and is lightweight and portable.Triple-Locking Hinge.A-Frame max height- 9 feet;A-Frame min height-5 feet;Extension max height-19 feet;Extension min height- 11 feet;Storage height- 5'7' inches.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The model 13 is not 13 feet."
"First, standing barefoot on this is tantamount to torture. I'm not sure how they did it, but they managed to design these to be incredibly uncomfortable to bare feet. Im a tall strong guy, but even I can strain a bit when moving it around."
"It worries me that my husband will be on it and it will fall over on him, so I feel like I have to be standing there to hold it in place."
"Have several things around the house from getting in to the attic to getting into the huge tree in our front yard and this ladder checks every box I needed."
"I'm using the ladder a lot for home renovation projects that I've been doing in my new-to-me house."
"I haven't had to use it for much height so far but coming from a non ladder climbing person, I'd say that I feel safe when climbing on this one."
"We borrowed one of these to use for our stage at church which, has a 25ft celing."
"This means that if you have to fold the ladder to move it to the next location, or to manuever it through stud framing, you either have to collapse the legs or tip the ladder (awkward at best). It's not a problem if you change a light bulb once in a while or paint for a weekend every few years.... but if you are using your ladder frequently, you will use find yourself using your "old-style" ladder, as it is much more convenient. The surface of the rung that you stand on is much smaller compared to a normal ladder, which you will feel if you spend significant time on the ladder."
Use the model in a-frame, extension, 90-degree ladder and 3 different scaffolding positions, buy one ladder to do the job of five. Use the right ladder for the right job every time and avoid 95% of all ladder-related safety issues. Product type: Multi-position ladder. The hinge locks and telescoping sides let you safely use the Little Giant Alta-One as an adjustable extension ladder, A-frame ladder, staircase ladder, and as trestle-and-plank scaffolding system. Wide-flared legs, rubberized feet, and high-quality construction give you unmatched stability in any of its 24 unique configurations. Heavy-wall aircraft-grade aluminum construction ; Storage Depth: 8.5 inch , Storage height: 4'7" ; Width at base: 23.5 Inch.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The model 13 is not 13 feet."
"First, standing barefoot on this is tantamount to torture. I'm not sure how they did it, but they managed to design these to be incredibly uncomfortable to bare feet. Im a tall strong guy, but even I can strain a bit when moving it around."
"It worries me that my husband will be on it and it will fall over on him, so I feel like I have to be standing there to hold it in place."
"Have several things around the house from getting in to the attic to getting into the huge tree in our front yard and this ladder checks every box I needed."
"I'm using the ladder a lot for home renovation projects that I've been doing in my new-to-me house."
"I haven't had to use it for much height so far but coming from a non ladder climbing person, I'd say that I feel safe when climbing on this one."
"We borrowed one of these to use for our stage at church which, has a 25ft celing."
"This means that if you have to fold the ladder to move it to the next location, or to manuever it through stud framing, you either have to collapse the legs or tip the ladder (awkward at best). It's not a problem if you change a light bulb once in a while or paint for a weekend every few years.... but if you are using your ladder frequently, you will use find yourself using your "old-style" ladder, as it is much more convenient. The surface of the rung that you stand on is much smaller compared to a normal ladder, which you will feel if you spend significant time on the ladder."
Folding 3-step steel frame stool with 27.25-inch standing height and silver finish.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I'm a very short lady so instead of dragging over a dining room chair over to reach the top cabinets, I decided to buy this 3-step folding ladder so I can easily store it away in my pantry."
"I can reach over the fridge to the highest, hardest to get to cabinet without straining or being out of balance."
"Got this so my wife would stop asking me to get stuff out of the cupboards lol a wise investment."
"Very have with the utility and quality of this little step stool."
"When it arrived, we discovered there had been one change in materials that we weren't totally happy with--the steel steps of our first one had been phased out in favor of hard plastic or rubber, which we do not expect to wear as well or last as long."
"Extremely sturdy stool, just like I used at work hold up to 200 lb person."
"It's a liiiiiittle heavier than most of the step stools that I've used in the past, but that's only because it's so much sturdier!"
"Heavy and unwieldy."
Best Ladder Accessories
Little Giant 10104 Work Platform. Stand securely and comfortably on the work platform's broad surface (rated to hold 375 lbs.).
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"One to stand on and the other to place our work product on the other side of the ladder."
"my little giant came with one of these, but i decided to get another, that way i could stand on one and use the other for a paint tray."
"I have only used it as a base for my paint cans and other supplies, but I will have no qualms about using it to stand on because it is so well built and sturdy."
"Great addition to my ladder."
"There are many great features about this ladder - the different configurations you can do and the fact that you can add on "extras"- Those extras really exend it's usefulness of just being able to "reach" something- I've also ordered the accessory tray, and that extra wide step platform- really saves on your feet, a safety factor as well."
"I just purchased this & used it for the first time today.If you own a Little Giant ladder & have a project that requires you to be on the ladder more than a couple minutes then you should have this stand.I just stood at 15ft with both hands free to attach gutter brackets on my house without having to be concerned about balance or falling.You can use both hands to do what you need to do & not worry.What this means is the job probably gets done better & more quickly.Standing on a ladder rung & standing on this stand are 2 different things completely.I recommend this stand.Steve."
"A must if you are going stand on the ladder for any length of time."
"This product will get years of valuable use for chores that were previously burdensome."
Best Extension Ladders
Elite Series, 22.5" x 7' 9" To 10', Aluminum Attic Ladder, Rated Up To 350 LB, With Advanced Piston Cylinder Design Eliminates Springs & Door Slammings, Insulated Door Panel Saves Energy, Adjustable Shoes For Easy Installation & Proper Fit. Installation kit includes EZ hang strap, plywood shims, 8- 7/8-Inch roofing nails, aluminum feet, door and instructions.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This review will focus on the differences between the two models and provide some installation tips not found anywhere else. BOTH ladders are so similar in price, features and load-rating it is impossible to tell much difference between them at all, UNTIL you try to install them! BOTH company's ladders have the same manufacturing defects, weak gas-struts, inaccurate frames made from cheap wet pine that warps. The written directions and videos for both ladders are so similar they are virtually identical. That's because there is no convenient safe way to lift the pre-assembled ladder (and its heavy frame ) into the opening. Your helper should be coordinated enough that he/she does not fall down, drop the mechanism and break it, or nearly drop the box and smash the wall nearby, thereby making great holes in the drywall and giving you yet another DIY repair project. TIP NUMBER TWO: IF the person you get to help you cannot lift fifty pounds above her head, is afraid of heights, is uncoordinated, does not know the difference between a screw-gun and a hammer, then you might be better off doing the job yourself. The WERNER ladder requires that you use TWO SUPPORT-BOARDS to hold the frame in place while you finish the installation. So... the Werner installation method is better in the sense that it gets the frame perfectly level with the ceiling, but it is fussy because it requires exact measurement. I suppose that might make a good murder plot if you hate your helper and have a big life insurance policy on her. It requires that your helper stand on a ladder and hold the box perfectly even with the ceiling while you nail the metal straps in place. That process leads to inaccuracies, arguments and some choice language inappropriate for this forum. No matter which model you choose, (and I really don't care which brand you buy) you can use a hybrid method I propose here. This HYBRID METHOD guarantees the frame will sit FLUSH with the ceiling, requires NO fussy measurements, allows you to do the job alone SAFELY and quickly. Go ahead and install two 32" boards with LONG screws from below, just as the Werner video advises. The trick is to NOT try to space those support boards at the exact distance as Werner recommends. Now, this next tip explains how I got the mechanism into the attic alone, safely and was able to install the whole thing in 20 minutes. I installed that around the hole, then used the safety fence to support a temporary hoist with a common block and tackle. In my case, the upper pulleys were 23 feet above the lower floor, so I need roughly four times that ( because of the 4 to 1 ratio) to thread the block and tackle. That leaves a wide-enough opening to get your aging body and the ladder up through the hole, but there is no chance the frame will plummet toward the garage floor nearly killing your beloved spouse. If you are young, flexible & strong, you could just lift the ladder into place above your head, then climb up into the attic. Instead... Use the hoist (the block-and-tackle) to lift the ladder upstairs into the attic, then slowly lower the frame into the hole. (used the Irwin japanese-style pull saw). Then you can open the ladder and finish the installation with deep lag bolts and whatever extra fasteners you deem appropriate. So, if you were able to tolerate this wordy review so far, I hope you learned that it DOES NOT MATTER WHICH LADDER you choose. Finally, here are some tips to make your life a little easier during installation, ESPECIALLY if you work alone... Include a flashlight, or two, in case you break the single bare bulb in that old ceramic socket, thereby leaving you alone in a dark dangerous attic with a precarious hole in the floor, with protruding rusty nails everywhere and shards of broken lightbulb to step on or cut your hands as you feel your way around in the dark for the cell phone you forgot."
"The plywood extended into the opening by a couple of inches on each end so that I was able could tilt the ladder into place and have it rest on the plywood while I crawled back into the attic and attached the straps."
"We ended up building a step platform to pull this down onto to make up the extra height difference and saved hundreds! TIP: Because our ceiling is super high, we screwed an eye bolt into the ladder door."
"The opperation of the ladder was smooth and effortless, thanks to the pistons, felt very secure to climb up, even with my 220 lb. It's a real treat not having to wave my hand arround in the dark feeling for the pull chain for the light. I read about how some people were not impressed with the luan panel and the insulation not glued down, but I looked at a lot of other doors and for the price of this unit with a piston, your getting a pretty good bang of your buck."
"Again, take your time and if you can, open and close this a few times before you finish the installation just to verify that everything is still lined up."
Best Step Ladders
15422-001 Features: -Enjoy an unmatched feeling of stability thanks to the dual-pin hinge, wide-flared legs and the highest quality construction. -Use the right ladder for the right job every time and avoid 95% of all ladder-related safety issues. Dimensions: Overall Height - Top to Bottom: -19 Feet. Buy one ladder to do the job of five,A-Frame max height :9'1'',A-Frame min height: 5'1'',Extension max height: 19',Extension min height:11',Rung Size Single Section:Inner: 1.5'' Outer: 1'',Stepladder height: 5'7",Storage Depth: 9'',Storage height: 5'7",Width at base: 27".
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"It is delivered to you assembled and is fairly compact when not in use – a little under 6 feet – which I find remarkable. If you have it in its storage position/height, and compare it to a 6 or 8 foot step ladder, well yes, this is very heavy. The feet have a plastic surround and rubber grips on them, so the ladder tends to stay put. Scaffolding (NOTE: Little Giant should not advertise this ladder as ready to use 5 ways. The other component used to lock/adjust the Velocity is what Little Giant calls Palm Buttons. You push these in when you want to change the ladder’s shape – go from storage to A-frame, or to extension mode, etc. As far as use as an extension ladder, it works well, but like any ladder, you need a little muscle to raise it, working in one fluid motion, or you need to lay it out on the lawn or driveway to extend it. • Well thought-out design (with one notable exception), with Rock Locks, Palm Buttons, Feet, wheels. Makes me wonder what will happen if I need them to cover their product under warranty. Over all, if you do not need this for scaffolding, it is a nice ladder and can help free up some space in your garage. It is probably a 4 based on its general usage, but due to advertising scaffolding and then making you buy extra parts to use it for…..scaffolding….that’s nonsense. To be a 5, the price has to be a little better and they need to include the scaffolding part – or just stop advertising it as such."
"Easy to adjust to a wide range of configurations based on the needs."
"This ladder is definitely awesome!"
"He just used it to climb to the highest point on our roof to nail on a piece of siding that had fallen."
"The only thing I would advise is make sure you purchase the platform for the step because when it stretched out some of the septs are very narrow and the platform will make it so much better."
"This ladder was purchased for my son as a gift from his wife for Christmas."
"My house is 1 1/2 stories with a vaulted ceiling living room (paint, new fan)."
"Absolutely love little giant ladders so ordered this as a gift."
Best Office Stools
Size: 3 Step. Deluxe molded utility tray for tool and paint tray and pails.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I would give this item 4 stars if the feet were rubber."
"I lift weights and this thing was not practical for inside the house use to me."
"This baby is sturdy and has both a well-placed hand hold plus a very convenient tray."
"I am only 5ft tall and I have 10ft ceilings in my house."
"The normal thin ladder rungs absolutely kill my feet, and I end up with major leg and back pain after a short period."
"easy to use...lightweight enough for me as a 5'1" woman to move from room to room but very sturdy."
"Great ladder!"
"This 3 step ladder was a great solution."
Best Telescoping Ladders
Designed for both commercial contractors and home do-it-yourselfers, Xtend & Climb Professional Edition Telescoping Ladders are a sensible alternative to traditional bulky extension ladders. Professional Edition Telescoping Ladders. At a Glance: Heavy-duty telescoping ladder extends and locks by the foot Red/green locking tab indicators for safe operation No-Pinch Closure System; angled thumb release insures proper hand position Closure strap and integrated handle for portability Six-month warranty on parts and repair. Extends and Locks by the Foot Xtend & Climb Professional Edition Telescoping Ladders extend and lock by the foot, easily adjusting to whatever height is needed for your job. Carry and Store Anywhere Thanks to an integrated carrying handle and heavy-duty closure strap, the Xtend & Climb Professional Edition Telescoping Ladder can be taken anywhere, and it stores compactly in your garage or truck. With larger duty ratings than the original Xtend & Climb ladders, the Professional Edition ladders can withstand even the most demanding jobs. Extends and locks by the foot with easy no pinch closure system.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The important point here is that a ladder that is EN131 rated is tested at exactly the rated weight, while a ladder that is ANSI rated must be tested at 4-times its rated weight. In other words, a ladder that is EN131 rated for 250 pounds was tested at no more than that weight. An ANSI rated ladder, like this one, that is rated at 250 pounds, was tested at 1,000 pounds. That's a lot different that 15.5 feet in "reach". When most manufacturers say that their ladder is 15.5 feet, you will notice the word "reach" included in the statement. So what that really means is that the ladder is 12.5 feet in length and that an average size person could "reach" 15.5 feet. You can feel the difference between ladders that have been tested at 250 pounds and this one, that has been tested to 1,000 pounds. This Xtend & Climb ladder is only a little more expensive than the knock-offs, but well worth the difference in price."
"Turns out to be a pretty option if you don't have the room to store a large ladder."
"I own what I consider to be a very complicated ladder "system" that I'm afraid of - one day it WILL pinch off a finger, and it is too awkward and heavy for me to carry (brawny contractors love to borrow it when they work on my house)."
"In my company and everyone of them said they can't use it (after two weeks) because the latches that retract the ladder have broke off. I have emailed several sellers of tho ladder and no one can get replacement latches."
"I have had extend & Climb send me replacement buttons and they are totally different than what is on the Chinese copy of the junk that this seller sold me....This is not a real Xtend and Climb ladder and I am working with the manufacturer to find out what is going on here .. I'm contacting my attorney monday , we have all been duped ...Xtend & Climb has been made aware. Here is a pic I took of the actual button Xtend and climb sent me on the left it is for the 785P series and is blue and pointed, all their buttons are pointed and the only other model is green and orange but never flat and black as on the right which this seller is peddling as genuine..."
"Good idea but mine gives me fits with the plastic thumb slides not working well so the ladder is a real "bear" (being polite) to return to compact size."
Best HVAC
With four beautiful colors to choose from and an easy to read display, this thermostat will help make your home not only smart but energy efficient. It’s called Farsight, and it lights up to show you the temperature, weather or time. A STYLE FOR EVERY HOME: The Nest Learning Thermostat now comes in four fantastic colors; Copper, Stainless Steel, Black, and White. Your Nest Secure can use your smart light bulbs to help get your attention in the event of an emergency; your smart washer and dryer can take the data from Nest and run the next load of laundry when energy demand is low. Nest is focused on making simple, human, delightful things. Home/Away Assist: Nest automatically turns itself down when nobody’s home to help you save energy. Farsight: When the Nest Thermostat spots you across the room, it lights up beautifully to show you the time, temperature or weather.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I began to purchase LED light bulbs as a start, new energy efficient appliances, and then September 2015 the Nest 3rd Generation was released which caught my attention. I asked my father in-law who had the Nest 2nd Generation for information and he had nothing negative to say about it so I was sold. Test your wires one more time prior to uninstalling to make sure no power is running (avoid being shocked or damaging anything). If you have children you can lock it so that a child touching it can not change or disrupt your temperature or any of your settings. Nest will remind you when you should change your air filters on your furnace because it can base it upon how many times it turns on and off. Significant drop in energy consumption can be seen on my gas bill after month 1."
"The nest was not calling for heat and temperature was dropping fast. I called the nest techs which were polite and helpful. They said my nest was wired for a heat pump which I do not have. The nest was properly wired, but when wiring was check via the wi if it said it was erroneously wired for a heat pump."
"** EDIT: I am happy to report that the Nest Thermostat now has a number of options for the Farsight feature, including to display the current room temperature, which I wanted, and to display the weather outside (downloaded from the internet), which is very cool indeed! To charge its batteries, the Nest needs a C (common) wire hooked up; otherwise it tries to charge itself whenever the heating or cooling system is running -- the only time current is passing through it. If I turn the heating system on and set the thermostat to something low, like 60 degrees, so the heat won't ever turn on, the Nest displays "60" rather than the actual temperature in the room. Why should I have to wall-mount a thermometer next to the Nest to replicate its thermometer, just because the Nest programmers won't offer the option to show the current temperature?"
Best Building Materials
You can also use it as an extra remote control to turn on lights or small appliances inside your home all from the comfort of your car. Compatible with LiftMaster Security+ Garage Door Openers, Gate Operators and Commercial Door Operator.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"When my 30-year-old Multi-Code remote stopped working the opener, I replaced the battery, but that made no difference. Both arrived the same day (although, oddly, by different means), and within an hour or so I had the garage door opener working again."
"I purchased two of these garage door remotes, because we moved into a new house at the end of May and only got one remote."
"I wasted an extra $5 on a clip I really didn't need."
"Liftmaster 371LM Garage Door Opener Remote Control works as described/ advertised."
"I pushed the purple learn button on the garage door opener and the replacement remote has worked perfect since then, simple, easy."
"Bought 2 and both work great with my Craftsman opener."
"This product made it sound like the color of your learn/smart button is enough to go on when buying a garage door remote."
"I have attached a photo of my garage door opener."
Best Material Handling
Whether you're a contractor or a DIY enthusiast, the Folding Work Table by Keter provides a sturdy yet portable work space for a wide variety of projects. Count on this folding work table to provide dependable work support for everything from sanding two-by-fours to staining table legs. Keter 17182239 Folding Work Table pops up to allow for a work surface then neatly folds away when you're done. Enter your model number to make sure this fits.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Please see the update at the bottom of the review... I was pleased with how quickly the unit showed up (3 days) and upon unboxing and giving it a try I was very pleased overall w/ weight, setup and sturdiness. On the third use after folding the unit, grabbing the grey swivel handle and hefting back to the garage the handle broke (both swivel point) sending the, thankfully, not too heavy table crashing down on my croc-laden foot. I do think that having the adjustable leg model Keter 217679 Adjustable Leg Folding Work Table would be nicer as the table is a bit short for my liking, but that would increase setup time and while i like the clamps on this better I didn't like the fact that there is no storage for clamps. UPDATE: As expected and understandable I would need to send back which IMO is too much hassle for the issue."
"I have a Ryobi 15" compound miter saw that I use on the regular but I don't like to use it in the garage because it gets sawdust EVERYWHERE. I bought this table so that when I want to work on a project I can set my saw up on the back yard patio or in the driveway, work for a couple hours and then put my saw back on the work bench in the garage, fold this table up and store it out of the way until I need it again. It's SO SMALL when it's folded up which makes is super convenient for storing just about anywhere or transporting with ease (which is great because I don't have a pickup truck)! I also lent this to a friend to use it to build grow boxes in his backyard and he loved it!! While I imagine it would be ideal for on site remodelers or construction professionals, I am not one so I won't speak for them, but I can tell you it's PERFECT for the DIYer or hobbyist like myself who needs a work bench but doesn't have a dedicated work shop or a lot of time or money to spend on such things."
"The product arrived with bar clamps and NOT the holding and toggle clamps shown in the Amazon page pictures."
"Clamping with the slidable bar clamps is much faster than the turning of handles on the Workmate and the work is very stable... If you have something short to work on, the clamps are not moveable and you run into the issue of being able to use only one clamp or not being able to hang your wood piece over the side for cutting and drilling."
"Had this for about a month, used it three times and one of the legs snapped off!"
Best Scaffolding Equipment
Enter your model number to make sure this fits.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Very happy with purchase will be perfect hight power wash my 34tt rv, which is one of the main reasons I purchased it rolls easy wheels lock firmly in place."
"The scaffold is a little wobbly when the platform is set above 5 feet, but not enough to cause a problem. I was able to assemble the scaffold by myself by standing the pieces on their sides on the floor and locking them together with the included spring bolts."
"I ordered it on a Monday and it was delivered to my door on Thursday. Easy to break down and move to other parts of the home. I was wrong, the paltform does not sag at all under my weight (195 lbs.). If the platform were at max height I could see where it may feel unstable. There was a minor problem where one leg tube was slightly crushed so the wheel would not insert. If you can't make this small of a repair, you have no business on a scaffold."
"I figured out to get the platform to the highest point was to turn it upside down, install the platform upside down and then flipped it over."
"This scaffolding is designed to be an easy to transport, easy to assemble unit for basic interior repairs or paint jobs. I thought that scaffolding could be a good idea, and a stack-able scaffolding would enable me to reach the ceiling easily. Just to be on the safe side, I started by ordering one scaffolding and a set of guard rails, with the intention to buy the second scaffolding later, after I paint the 12 ft ceiling. I hated standing on a wobbly scaffolding at 5-6 feet level, and I totally did not want to experience the same or more wobbliness when I am at 12 feet. On the positive side, wheels are large and sturdy; the scaffolding is easy to roll around when wheel locks are disengaged. In the end, this scaffolding helped me to do my paint job, but there was not a moment when I enjoyed or simply liked working on it. In contrast, if one needs a low platform (e.g., 2-3 feet) to work on relatively low (i.e., standard) ceiling (e.g., install drywall), at low height it is way less wobbly and can be used with confidence and without guardrails."
Best Job Site & Security Lighting
The TaoTronics multi-function LED desk lamp lets you select from 5 light modes and 6 levels of brightness for the perfect lighting. 5 color temperatures 5 color temperatures include: 2700-3000k warm white, 3000-3500k soft white, 4000-4500k natural light, 5000-5500k daylight, and 6000-6500K cool white light. Multiple functions: memory function, 60-minute timer, night light, office desk lamp, bedroom desk lamp, and a 5V/2a ismart USB port.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"There's even a "favorite" light setting button that allows you to quickly jump back to the light setting that you prefer. The night light and timer features are a great bonus, but I don't think it will be used much compared to if I had placed it in my young son's room."
"In reality, its more like 17.6875" tall when standing completely straight from desk to very top. The lamp can easily hover over low standing 23" screens (my 23" screen is just under 16.5" in height and will work with anything right up to 17" tall."
"Finally, the nightlight option is easy to activate, is its own button, and doesn't require the lamp to be opened."
"This lamp is beautiful, minimalist, and very functional. I seriously love this lamp it has so many functions."
"You’ve truly found the hoqqly grail of desk lamps. I could go on but there’s many other reviews and even videos showing the lamps technical aspects."
"I typically leave use it on low setting, warm at night when, say, watching a movie in bed, and use my "favorite" setting (brightest, white light) when reading."