Since your hands are naturally the most active parts of your body, gloves should be the first safety equipment to be guaranteed safety in such working environments as a construction site, garage and woodshop.
Not just any gloves will guarantee you maximum safety; you need professional gloves that will not only provide the required safety but are also comfortable for your hands.
Construction gloves come in numerous designs, each coming with a range of features. While some are made for the cold weather, others are made more appropriate for the winter conditions.
With several options on the table, construction workers are sometimes spoilt for choice and end up purchasing the wrong type of construction gloves.
In this article, we will discuss how to choose the best construction gloves.
In a hurry? Check the top picks!
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Why Do You Need the Construction Gloves？
Here are some of the reasons why you need construction gloves at your disposal;
Maximum Protection
On a construction site, workers are likely to injure their hands more than any other body part.
For this reason, equipping yourself with construction gloves reduces the chances of getting injured by almost 40%.
They have been designed in a way to protect your hands against all kinds of injuries.
High Comfortability
Comfortability is the reason many workers do not like wearing gloves.
Unlike the past, when manufacturers only concentrated on protection and laid less emphasis on comfort, there has been a huge emphasis on comfort.
Dexterity
It isn’t easy to handle some things with bare hands since they are too slidey. Luckily, today’s work gloves are important as they add much-needed dexterity when handling things.
Construction gloves reduce the chance of items falling and getting spoilt.
For mechanical workers, freezer workers, carpentry, it is advisable to use these gloves:
What Expect Construction Gloves to Do?
The use of gloves varies depending on the type of work. Here are what you should expect from your gloves on various working stations.
For Constructions – All construction sites are riddled with hazards that can cause vital injuries to your hands. At a construction site, you need comfortable gloves that will assure you maximum protection yet barely noticeable.
For carpentry – If you work at a carpentry shop, your hands are the most frequently used body part; therefore, you need a piece of gloves to protect you against hand-related cuts or bruises that could affect
For concrete work – Exposing your hands to both wet and dry concrete could cause severe damage. For concrete work, you need gloves that can restrict concrete and dirt entry into your hands. Also, they need not have the soaking ability since your work involves handling wet substances.
For electrical work – Working in an environment that poses electrical hazards is extremely dangerous; electrical gloves should be at least 11 inches long and be suited to hurdle high voltage electrical operations.
For mechanical work – Mechanical gloves should protect your hands from extremely high temperatures and sharp objects. They should be comfortable in your hands and offer a stable, firm grip to help you hurdle items without fear.
Types of Construction Gloves
When selecting the most appropriate construction gloves, safety, function, and fit are the three most important factor to consider.
Construction gloves can be categorized into two; normal construction gloves and heat construction gloves.
Normal Construction Gloves
Ordinary construction gloves are designed to protect your hands from threats from chemicals, cuts, vibrations while still allowing you to perform your construction work effectively.
Depending on work nature, regular construction, gloves can be made from cotton or fabric, rubber or plastic, leather.
With multiple threats available on a construction site, it’s necessary to have more than one type of glove at your toolbox.
Heat Resistant Construction Gloves
Heat-resistant gloves are designed to protect construction workers from burns and burn-related injuries related to extremely hot objects.
Any workplace that exposes a worker to sparks, flames or high temperatures requires you to wear heat-resistant gloves.
The severity of heat hazards varies from low to high depending on the industry; specific heat-resistant gloves are better suited for some workplaces than others.
The most common materials used in making heat-resistant gloves include terry knit and carbon fiber or, in some cases, a combination of these two fibers.
What to Look for When Buying Construction Gloves?
Construction gloves come in various forms, and it is easy to make a mistake when ordering some for yourself.
You will find some that offer maximum comfort but do not keep your hands protected as you require any construction gloves.
To help workers make the best decision when buying construction gloves, here are some of the key features to consider;
What material should be in your consideration?
The material you need for your gloves depends on the level of dexterity, grip and warmth you require for your gloves.
Gloves made of leather are usually the most durable but will lack dexterity.
Synthetic gloves, on the other hand, will have dexterity but are not as durable as genuine leather.
Some manufacturers have combined several materials in one glove to give you all the benefits you might need in one glove. That way, you will get leather on the palm, cotton on the back, and terrycloth on the sweat wipe’s thumb.
If you are in short budget but want a durable gloves, look at this one:
What makes the gloves more protectvie?
Gloves can come in roughed-up material for extra friction or full-padded patches for impact protection.
The palm protection and grip required will depend on your nature of work.
- Suede gloves, for instance, provide both durability and a strong grip.
- The rubber, on the other hand, provides a better grip on a wet environment.
What makes it cut resistant?
Bear in mind that not all synthetic or leather gloves last long. Ensure that the material used in the manufacturer is not too thin or too thick.
Have proper protection as well as dexterity. Always look closely at the reinforcement in the stress points of the gloves.
Should I consider the seasons?
It depends on the environment in which you plan to wear the construction gloves. Some gloves are made for cold weather while others for hot weather.
Warm weather gloves are usually made to have breathable fabric to enable sweat and moisture to get wicked away to keep your hands dry throughout.
On the other hand, cold weather gloves should have insulation to keep your hands warm and active throughout.
With thin and breathable nylon and polyester, Liberty black work gloves helps aborb sweat during working.
What is the price?
The last thing to consider when purchasing construction gloves is the price. Although most people would naturally go for the cheapest, you must go for reasonably priced gloves of the required quality.
The price of the construction gloves you can go ranges from $10 – $30.
What Construction Glove Material Is Durable?
Leather
Leather is the most used materials for making gloves as it adapts to the surrounding temperature and environment. The different leathers available depend on animals, origin and conditions.
The most commonly used leather gloves are made from cowhide. They are known to take the shape of the wearer and maintain their integrity for a long time.
Canvas
Most canvases are white and vary in weight. Therefore, when choosing the most appropriate canvas for your gloves, it will depend on your type of work.
Some manufacturers blend cotton with other materials or use 100% in making construction gloves.
Cotton fibres are knit into breathable gloves that are easy to wear and offers high comfortability.
If you work in an icy environment, the canvas is a suitable material for your gloves.
Knit
Knit can be used for coating on knitted glove liner or as a coating on thin textile material. Most manufacturers use this material as leather imitation in what is referred to as synthetic leather.
Knit gives gloves a thin pliable coating that offers good dexterity. The material works well for gloves used in both dry and wet environments.
Latex/Rubber
Latex gloves are known to have good grip, abrasion, dexterity and puncture resistance abilities.
Latex coating makes gloves most suitable for use in garages, construction work and various other purposes.
Latex gloves can withstand high temperatures and offer great tear resistance.
Despite their abilities, latex gloves should not be used around hydrocarbon and organic solvents like kerosene and gasoline.
Also, workers with latex allergies should not use gloves with this coating type.
Nitrile
It is a co-polyester of butadiene and acrylonitrile. The material can be a synthetic version of latex that does not contain the famous latex protein.
Nitrile is not known to have any allergies, and so you don’t have to worry if you struggle with allergies.
It offers excellent abrasion abilities as well as puncture or tears resistance even when under intense pressure. It is a perfect choice for use in handling small oily surfaces.
PVC
PVC or plastic gloves have good durability and can be used for both wet and dry environments. If your work involves handling wet surfaces, this type of gloves can be a perfect fit for you.
PVC gloves are also suitable for handling organic solvents and soluble chemicals.
How to Care for Your Construction Gloves?
Contrary to what people think, caring for your construction gloves does not only mean regular cleaning but also saving them from inside rot, chemical damage and keeping it in the right shape.
To keep your construction gloves from drying off, use mink oil, leather conditions and coconut oil if you stay in high-temperature areas.
Construction gloves can also rot from the inside if left in wet conditions for too long, you can use a hairdryer, and if you feel your hands are becoming too wet, you can pull them to dry before going back to work.
Harsh chemicals are common in worksites; wash leather gloves using a mind detergent after work.
Above all, read the care instruction that comes with your gloves to avoid using the wrong care strategies.
