Rope ladders are flexible and made of strong rope with different models available. They are easy to store and useful in situations where traditional ladders are not practical. Building a rope ladder is simple, and commercially manufactured ones are available. It is important to pay attention to weight load and ensure they can support at least two people.
Rope ladders are flexible ladders made mostly of sections of strong rope. A couple of slightly different models for the string scale have emerged over the years, although the basic premise remains the same. Ladders of this type are easy to store and can come in very handy in situations where a traditional rigid ladder is not practical.
In the basic design, rope ladders use sturdy rope for the side pieces. Two different strategies can be employed with ladder rungs. The simplest approach is to create flexible pegs made with the same type of string used for the side pieces. An alternative is to use sections of wood or metal to create rigid rungs to incorporate into the ladder design.
Building a rope ladder is a relatively simple process. For the side pieces, cut two sections of string slightly longer than the total length you want for the ladder. Make sure you leave enough extra length in each section to tie knots at desired intervals. These knots will hold up each of the pegs. Also leave some extra length for hooks at one end that can be used to secure the ladder in place.
The next step in creating your own rope ladder is to install the rungs. For wooden or metal rungs, drill holes large enough for the side ropes to pass through easily. Starting at one end, tie a knot in each of the side pieces. Slide the peg into place just below the first set of knots, then tie a second set of knots just below the peg. Repeat this process with each rung you add to the ladder.
If you prefer to install flexible rungs on your ladder, the process is very similar. You still want to tie knots in the top and bottom side pieces where the lung of the string is tied and knotted on the side pieces. Using this double knot system adds stability to the ladder itself whilst still allowing the overall design to be flexible and therefore easy to store.
Rope ladders are handy for many different applications. Ladders of this type are ideal for use with backyard treehouses. People who live in multi-story homes may choose to keep rope ladders on each upper floor, creating a means of escaping the house in the event of a fire or other disaster that blocks access to the main floor exits. Climbers sometimes carry ladders with them as part of their basic equipment, using them to scale areas where hand and foot holds are not readily available.
For people who don’t want to make their own ladders, commercially manufactured rope ladders can be purchased from many sporting goods stores, as well as some home and garden supply stores. When buying a ready-made staircase or the materials to make your own, pay close attention to the weight load of the materials going into the design. Stay away from models that won’t support at least the weight of the average adult male. If possible, be sure to use rope ladders that can support at least two people at a time.
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