To help you out, here’s a quick rundown of some key points that you may want to consider before selecting a loft ladder:
Material
Loft ladders are typically made of either wood or aluminium.
An aluminium loft ladder may be a good choice if you want something that’s…
- Durable yet lightweight
- Relatively cheap
- Quick and easy to extend / collapse
That being said, wooden loft ladders tend to be the more popular choice simply because they look nicer in the home. Yes, they cost a bit more than their aluminium counterparts and generally aren’t quite so easy to handle, but they’re sturdier and most people would agree that they have more aesthetic appeal.
Hatch
If you’re looking add a ladder to an existing loft hatch, start by measuring the hatch – then select a ladder that matches those dimensions.
If, on the other hand, you’re planning to create a new opening for a loft ladder, the first thing to do is check how much floor space is actually available in your attic. This will help you to determine the size of both the ladder and the hatch.
Some loft ladders – but not all of them – come with a hatch kit included. Be sure to check this before you buy.
Space
Your loft ladder will take up a certain amount of space in the attic when stowed away. Exactly how much space depends on the type of ladder – for example, a slimline aluminium ladder will occupy less space than a chunky wooden ladder.
This is another important consideration. Before you commit to a particular loft ladder, make sure there will be sufficient clearance around and above the opening.
Style
Some loft ladders are very simple, while others are more luxurious. Think about who is going to be using the ladder and how often it’s likely to be used. A cheap sliding aluminium ladder may suffice if you only pop up to the loft once or twice a year, but if you’re going to be heading up there on a regular basis, you may quickly come to wish you’d invested in something nicer that offers a more comfortable climb.
If you want to make your loft accessible to family members who are on the older side and/or have mobility issues, it might be worth installing a permanent staircase instead of a foldaway ladder. Extending a heavy ladder and climbing up it can be quite challenging (more so than simply walking up a set of stairs) if you’re not physically fit and able, so make sure you’re thinking about the capabilities of the people who will need to ascend and descend.
No comments