A loft ladder can be a very necessary, often used asset of your home, or it might be something you seldom use: however, it does deserve careful consideration. Your choices of loft ladders are not only the materials they are made of, but of the design also, and these may be dictated by your budget and the area they will be in, as well as your physical capabilities.
Wood and aluminum are the most common materials, but they are also available in steel. From floor to ceiling, the wood ladders are usually seven to nine feet tall, yet relatively compact to store. You can get them so they fold in three places with spring balance. They can also come with the insulated hatch and sell for $300.00 to $650.00.
There are two categories of the aluminium ladders regarding the slides, those with two sections and those with three sections. They can run about ten feet tall and the cost range is $50.00 to 150.00. You should check the weight limit for any of the ladders, but especially on these.
Loft ladders also come in concertina and telescopic styles. The concertina ladder is a very secure, hardworking ladder, which is ideal for high ceilings or unusual situations, such as a vertical opening or a suspended floor. The telescopic style is easy to move because it is lightweight and has an adjustable height, yet it folds small enough to store in the frame of the hatch. These two are more expensive, running from $250.00 to $1,200.00.
For those of you who are incapable of pulling down a ladder and pushing it back up, you can get an electric one. Of course, this will be expensive; however, if you are in that position, it is worth every penny.
Before you choose a loft ladder, you need to think about your budget, how much use it will get, and the space where it will go as well as your physical limitations, if you have any. You need to have accurate measurements to ensure it will fit, and check the weight limit and durability of them. The one your neighbor has might not work for you so be a smart shopper.
For most people there will only be the need to buy one loft ladder in their lives, after all, once you have installed one in the ceiling there should be no need for another. The two main types of loft ladders that you are most likely going to want to have to decide between are aluminum loft ladders and wooden loft ladders.
Either type of ladder is going to give you a reliable means of gaining access to the attic. The wooden option is possibly the type of choice you will make if you are looking for a smoother, quieter way to pull the ladder down. A wooden ladder will be folded up directly above the hatch so that as the hatch is opened, the ladder will unfold smoothly to the floor.
Aluminum ladders, on the other hand, will generally be a cheaper option. They are lightweight and they come in a range of folding options to cater for the various scenarios both above the ceiling and below. You may want to buy a sliding loft ladder where the ladder slides down through 2 or 3 segments until it lands on the floor.
For situations where space is at a premium the choice that may be your best bet is a concertina ladder. These types of loft ladders are able to fold up into a very small space, so if there is little room available because the entry to the attic is close to a wall or other obstruction the concertina loft ladder will prove to be essential.
If the installation of an attic ladder is being done as part of an overall attic conversion, all you will have to do is buy the loft ladder you require and have it delivered. Your building contractor should have little trouble installing it for you. Otherwise you could do the installation yourself or have the suppliers do the installation for you.
Make sure the loft ladder you buy will allow you to gain easy entry to the attic. It should be easy to pull down and fold away and the ladder itself should feel solid and safe as you climb it.
Electric Loft Ladders
Electric ladders are easy to use. All you need to do is press a button and the ladder will be lowered smoothly. When you have finished your job you can press the button again to let it go back smoothly. These ladders can be made of aluminium, wood or even a combination of steel and aluminium. Such ladders which use electricity are powered by the electricity in your home. The switch is usually placed on the wall or near the hatch. If you have pets and kids around you can consider the use of the ladder which has the emergency stop sensor which is used to sense when something comes in-between.
You may require electric loft ladders if you are going to use your attic frequently. This will be very comfortable and convenient because you may not need to pull and drag your ladder each time you want to access your loft. Once you install the ladder you need to maintain it regularly by checking if all the parts are moving easily. Oil each part properly to enable easy and swift movements. Electric ladders are not cheap. It may cost you about $1,500-2000, plus an additional $50 for the switch. The cost also depends on the size you may need for your home. You can also look for ladders which have remote operations. Additional costs may include installation charges if you are not familiar with wiring etc.