For most homeowners, aluminum attic ladders are the easiest to install. They're durable and lightweight, which makes them easier to fit properly.
The easiest type of loft ladder to fit is a sliding loft ladder like the Spacemaker. This type of loft ladder can be easily fixed to the inside of your loft or the existing loft hatch.
Scissor stairs are a top quality alternative for attic ladders. Especially in professional applications where reliability and labour safety is required.
Timber ladders can start to weaken over time. If you're only going up and down once or twice a year the timber is fine, but the aluminium makes an attic space easier and more enjoyable to use more frequently.
1. Pull-Down Attic Ladders. Pull-down attic ladders are among the most common types found in homes today. These ladders are permanently installed and fold out from the ceiling.
Make sure you accurately measure your opening size, floor-to-ceiling height, as well as swing clearance and landing space, so you select a ladder that will fit the space you have. Whether you prefer lightweight and long-lasting aluminum, or economical wood, we have attic ladders for your various needs.
The average U.S. homeowner spends $500 on attic ladder installation costs, but it ranges from $400 to $1,000 depending on the complexity of the project. Whether your attic is a simple storage area or a finished living space, you need safe access to it. The average attic ladder installation costs about $500 overall.
Cons: Conductive: Not safe for electrical work as aluminum conducts electricity, posing a risk in environments with electrical hazards. Heat Conductive: While not a major concern, especially for homeowners, aluminum can become hot to the touch when exposed to direct sunlight or high temperatures.
You can find attic ladders made of aluminum, steel, or wood. Aluminum is generally the best all-around choice because it is lightweight and strong. Because aluminum is a rust-resistant metal, it's unlikely to be affected by humidity and temperature over the years.
Durable Aluminum Construction: Made of high-quality aluminum, this attic ladder provides strength and durability, allowing it to support up to 375 pounds.
Ladder Alternatives
The most common include scissor lifts, boom lifts, rolling scaffolds, temporary flooring, and platforms. Implementing prefabrication on our projects has also been instrumental in eliminating hundreds of potential falls.
Added home value
The other benefits of adding a roof ladder to your home add up to real savings and improvements. This adds resale value to your home overall, meaning a roof ladder is one of the smarter investments you can make to improve your property.
Choosing the Right Attic Ladder Size
Most standard ladders require an opening of 22.5" x 54". However, if you're choosing a larger aluminum ladder, you may need an opening of 25" x 66". In some cases, oversized wooden ladders can require an opening as big as 30" x 54".
Each brand of loft ladder has different pros and cons and ultimately the answer lies with what you are looking for in your home. Keylite loft ladders are the best for quality & ease of installation, FAKRO loft ladders are classic and quality, and TB Davies EUROFOLD ladders are perfect for all budgets.
If the job is starting to sound more complex than you envisaged, perhaps it's time to talk to a local joiner. Installing a loft ladder would be a simple DIY task if it were at ground level – but it's not. Before installing one yourself you need to consider your skills, your equipment, and your experience.
The feet should rest firmly on the floor, and the ladder should be at a 68 to 80 degree angle. Once the ladder is extended, rotate both right-hand side catches downward to unlock and release them so they lock into the other ladder sections.
Both wood and aluminium ladders have their merits and faults, but both are a long-lasting and reliable options. Wooden ladders are better for those who have a traditional, cosy home and want to keep their attic ladder in keeping with this theme.
SLIDING LOFT LADDERS
By far the easiest ladders to fit and use are the sliding variety. They are usually attached to the joists inside your loft and usually come as two or three-section ladders.
Attic ladders are a lot more superior than stairs as they take in extremely little space and offer a good deal of flexibility. They are low-cost, compact, and retractable. A pull down Attic Ladder folds up into the ceiling when not in use, and quickly locks & folds into place making it easy access to your attic.
On construction sites, steel ladders can pose issues on several fronts. They can produce sparks if they clang against another ladder. Aluminum ladders won't spark, so they're safer on construction sites around flammable materials.
Aluminium has very high electrical conductivity. If you work on an aluminium ladder near electricity, you are exposing the ladder to an electrical circuit, the ladder being the ground route, passing the electricity through your body first. Always be aware of nearby power lines.
Don't work within 6 m horizontally of any overhead power line, unless it has been made dead or it is protected with insulation. Use a non-conductive ladder (eg fibreglass or timber) for any electrical work.
Ladders are costly because they have to be made out of sturdy, high-quality materials if they're going to be safe to use.
Attic ladders are available in different lengths, and you want the bottom of the “stringers” (ladder rails) to fully extend and touch the floor.
Buildings with combustible ceiling or roof construction shall have an attic access opening to attic areas that exceed 30 square feet (2.8m squared) and have a vertical height of 30 inches (762 mm) or more.