All About Loft Ladders

Having access to an attic or a room directly under your home's roof is what loft ladders are designed for. They fold up and store conveniently out of the way, yet when needed they give you quick and easy access. That said, there are many different makes and styles of attic ladders and stairs you can choose from.

The most common type is the wooden loft ladder. This type of ladder is found in makes that fold up, are telescopic or an accordion design. You'll find them made from everything from pine wood to oak and others as well. In fact, many people elect for a custom made loft ladder to give their home a distinctive look and feel.

With any of these ladders you can find they will either permanently attach to the loft, or they may be fastened right to the side of the loft opening. Which model is right for you is only a matter of personal choice.

Some of the more common models you can purchase for your home include ones such as Fakro Folding Attic Stairs, or the OLN Basic Attic Stairs Model, and the LWS-P Smart Plus Attic Ladder. Prices on these units will vary according to the features included. For example, do you want a handrail, rubber feet or pinch protection with your ladder?

Another common design style is ones made of aluminum. Not only do they cost far less than their wood counterparts, but they are also lightweight and designed for heavy use. You can find them in either a 2 or 3 section design.

Timber loft ladders are really stylish and designed for higher end use. The sky is the limit as far as type of wood used, design of the finish and more.

A concertina loft ladder is yet another choice and is quite common in older homes. It pulls down and expands until hitting the floor, but pushes back up and stores out of the way in a quick fashion.

Finally, you'll find a number of different do-it-yourself loft ladder kits. This is great if you are experienced in home building. But if you're not...don't try to do the job yourself. Securing the ladder involves some knowledge and skill. Instead, call in a professional and let them do it for you. I'm not saying it's impossible, but how much is peace of mind and your time worth to you?

One other quick tip is in existing loft ladders. If you have an older home with and it still uses the original ladder, be careful. Make sure to inspect it and look for loose hardware and cracked boards. It's easy for things to come loose after many years of use. If you see any cracked wood you may want to go ahead and replace the entire unit.

Here's a videon on how a folding loft ladder works: