| Old or even broken timber ladders can be put to | | | | Though this set of shelving will need more cross |
| a number of new uses around the home, shed or | | | | bracing to support the expected loads that it |
| garden. | | | | would carry. |
| Among the ideas you could explore are pot plant | | | | Stepladders |
| or storage stands, climber frames, storage racks | | | | Hung or fastened parallel to the shed floor well |
| and pot plant hanger racks. | | | | above your head, one ladder would make an ideal |
| If using it for a set of shelves for instance, it | | | | hanging storage rack for things like garden hoses, |
| does not even matter if the old thing is missing a | | | | spare hanging pots, watering cans etc. Whereas, |
| rung or two, this can either add height to one | | | | one fastened up outside your home, above head |
| shelf or just add to the charm of the finished | | | | height would easily accommodate a fairly big |
| product. | | | | collection of hanging pots. |
| But before you deck your old ladder out for its | | | | Whereas if you hung or fastened one parallel to |
| new job, inspect it carefully. Repair and/or | | | | the shed floor at about knee height, one single |
| strengthen any weak or cracked areas. Smooth | | | | ladder will make an ideal storage rack with |
| or cut back any dangerous edges or exposed | | | | dividers, for all your big garden tools to stand |
| splinters, as this is for your's and other peoples | | | | upright in; like spades, forks, rakes, hoes, garden |
| safety. | | | | stakes, spare lengths of timber, fishing rods, oars |
| To paint or not to paint is up to you, depending | | | | etc. |
| on the effect that you are trying to achieve. But | | | | Climber Frames |
| bare unpainted timber will last longer if you soak | | | | A Frame Ladders |
| or paint some form of preservative product or oil | | | | Use a freestanding A Frame ladder out in the |
| into the exposed timber, especially if it will have to | | | | open garden as a climbing frame for a rose or |
| survive the effects of weathering. | | | | something similar. |
| Also if you are going to use it around the garden | | | | Or separate the two halves and mount them |
| or elsewhere outside the house, you will need to | | | | against a wall, either at an angle similar to the |
| consider whether undesirable people might use it | | | | original freestanding model, or flat as in a |
| as a means to enter your home, so securing the | | | | stepladder, as a climbing frame. |
| ladder to the surrounding supports may well be an | | | | Stepladders |
| important issue. | | | | Mount a ladder against a fence or shed/house |
| Pot plant or Storage Stands/Racks | | | | wall, either vertically or horizontally and you have |
| A Frame Ladders | | | | an effective trellis or climbing frame for your |
| Stand one of these ladders in a spare corner of | | | | climbing plants. From as simple as using hanger |
| the home, patio, pergola or shed; add some | | | | hooks to actually screwing it to a supporting |
| planks of timber of whatever you have around | | | | frame you can grow just about any plant over |
| the place, and you will either have a rustic display | | | | this sort of climbing frame. |
| stand for your plants or for the gardening | | | | So don't send that old ladder to the hardware |
| accessories out in the shed. | | | | store in the sky, as there are a number of new |
| Or separate the two halves of an A Frame | | | | lives it could find around your home once it can no |
| ladder, and make them the end supports of a set | | | | longer be used as a ladder. |
| of rectangular shelves, the choice are up to you. | | | | |