Loft Ladder Choices

Just about every home has a great deal of underutilised storage space sitting around just waiting to be taken advantage of. The problem for most is that the space is difficult to access because it is in the attic and there is no way to easily in there and, when you do get in there it’s dirty and dusty. But if you were to take a good look at the attic it might become obvious that with a minimum of work and expense the area can be converted into valuable storage space after an attic conversion. But there will still be a question that must be answered and that is the best way to access the attic.

The answer is to install a loft access ladder into the ceiling. These ladders may be made from wood or from aluminium and they may fold, concertina or slide into a compact bundle where it will be hidden inside the ceiling.

A loft ladder can be installed reasonably simply and inexpensively as long as you can work out the best place for it to go. A loft storage specialist should be able to help in advising where the most appropriate spot will be.

From where the loft ladder may be folded away you can access it to pull it down to ground level in one of three ways. The first may involve a cord that hangs from the ceiling. You would simply pull on the string to drop the ladder down. Alternatively you may have a long pole with hook on the end that you can use to snag a latch to pull the ladder down.

A more high tech option is an electric loft ladder that can be lowered and raised at the switch of a button. This option is available with a type of aluminium concertina loft ladder.

A wooden loft ladder is a popular choice when it comes to gaining access to the attic of the house. These types of ladders are available as pull-down folding ladders or sliding ladders and are hidden away in the ceiling when not in use. They provide a study and safe way to ascend into the attic after being pulled down, usually with a stick with a hook attached to the end.

Generally speaking the wooden loft ladders have a lower load capacity than the equivalent sized aluminium loft ladders. Many people prefer the look and feel of a wooden ladder, though and the ladder treads may be reinforced with metal rods to give them added strength.

Once the position of the loft ladder has been determined, preferably after consultation with a professional who can advise on potential problem areas, the actual installation itself is not too difficult. A wooden loft ladder will be delivered in kit form complete with the hatch attached. Anyone with building experience or major renovations will be able to handle cutting the hole in the ceiling and installing the loft ladder themselves.

That being said, getting a professional wooden loft ladder installer will not add significant cost to the price and you can be assured that the job will be done properly first time.

Aluminium loft ladders are lightweight and low cost and they also provide a solid and reliable stairway up into the attic. An aluminium loft ladder may be a concertina style or telescopic style and they both fold away into compact arrangements in the ceiling.

Not only are these types of ladders sturdy and durable they are also lightweight and will operate smoothly over a long period of time no matter how frequent the traffic. They come in an assortment of different types depending on the amount of space you have to access the ceiling from, the distance between the floor and the ceiling and your budget.

A 2-section loft ladder will be suitable for an average height ceiling while a higher ceiling might require a 2-section loft ladder. The alternative to either of these is a concertina ladder that also has the added bonus of folding up into a very compact size so that it won’t take up a lot of space when not in use.

When space is at a premium or if there is not a large access area at ceiling level, the most appropriate option may be to install a concertina loft ladder. These aluminium ladders collapse up into only a small area but when they are pulled down they give you a sturdy stair with a deep tread. Not only are concertina loft ladders appropriate for their compact size but they also make a good option when dealing with high ceilings.

This type of ladder allows you to deal with awkward or unusual access areas. They are usually available in aluminium or steel and they work by folding in themselves to form a small cube which sits on top of the access hatch.

When you buy a concertina loft ladder assembly kit you should look for a product where the hatch door and frame are included in heavy duty materials. An iron frame installed into the ceiling will ensure the ladder will be able to cope with frequent use and still be able to operate smoothly and silently every time. Look for loft ladders with handrails installed because a concertina loft ladder is usually quite steep and the added assistance will be of great benefit. There may also be the option of a second handrail that can be added to the other side of the ladder for even greater climbing assistance.

If you only have room in the ceiling for a small access hatch the ideal choice is the telescopic loft ladder. Telescopic loft ladders slide together to take up only a small portion of space in the roof. They also extend down through an opening that is only quite small.

Whereas the folding attic ladders extend down at a reasonably shallow angle, a telescopic loft ladder comes down at quite a vertical angle. Again, this allows the ladder to fold away into a small hatch but what it means to those who are using the ladder is that ascending to the attic is going to require a climb more similar to that of a ladder rather than stairs.

Generally speaking a telescopic loft ladder will be made of aluminium rather than wood. They are reasonably light weight and the cost will fall more to the lower end of the spectrum.

Folding loft ladders are the most common types of wooden ladders and they provide a sturdy and reliable ladder that simply folds down into place when the hatch is lowered. It is important to have these ladders installed at the right angle to ensure that the ladder reaches to the floor and that it falls at an angle that will be comfortable when climbing with your arms full. An additional feature with most folding loft ladders is that they come with hand rails to assist in climbing up and down safely.

There is no doubt that by installing a loft ladder you will give your home the potential to become less cluttered. Long term storage in the roof after an attic conversion has made it habitable should free up a lot of space in the living areas of the home.

Installing a loft ladder is a relatively quick procedure for an installation expert. For only a few hundred pounds or dollars you can give yourself access to a vast amount of space that would otherwise have gone to waste.

Along with the actual loft ladder you will also get a further accessory to assist in its operation. This device is a loft ladder pole that is used to reach up and hook onto the catch in order to bring the ladder down out of the ceiling. No matter whether you have a concertina loft ladder, a telescopic loft ladder, a wooden loft ladder or an aluminium loft ladder it must be dragged down from its reclined position. This is assuming that you have not installed an electric loft ladder that would ascend and descend from the ceiling at the touch of a button.