Choosing a loft ladder makes accessing your extra storage space a lot easier and safer. The ladder you buy will depend on your personal preference, the space available to you, and how often you intend on using it. So, let’s take a look at your options!
Folding Loft Ladders
- Simple to use
- Frame and hatch attached
- Timber options are most popular
Folding loft ladders, such as concertina ladders or the one pictured above, are a highly-popular type of loft ladder as a result of their simplicity. Here, the ladder simply folds up, usually in two or three sections which end up stacked on top of each other on the hatch once fully closed. By far the most popular and practical option used by homeowners is the timber folding ladder, due to their quieter, smoother, and more secure nature in comparison to aluminium loft ladders. The latter can sometimes ‘bend’ or ‘flex’ as you use them which can be quite concerning for some users.
High-quality timber loft ladders often come with a frame and a loft hatch attached, ready to be installed to your loft opening. They will contain locks which hold the ladder in either a closed or locked position and are usually ‘sprung’ to make them lower or raise. You may be required to alter your loft hatch to fit the ladder, but most have different hatch sizes that you can choose from to suit your specific dimensions.
Sliding Loft Ladders
- Easy to use
- Competitively priced
- Come with a loft hatch conversion kit
Sliding loft ladders are among the simplest ladders to install and use to access your loft. They are usually attached to the joists inside your loft and tend to come as two or three-section ladders. The majority of modern homes in the UK will have a loft opening big enough to meet the minimum sizes specified, or will easily be able to extend it to fit. These type of loft ladders do not usually come with a loft hatch supplied: instead, they often come with a kit that enables you to convert your existing hatch into a hinged one. Budget sliding loft ladders manufactured from lightweight aluminium and are designed for light usage. They can sometimes be a lot noisier than their timber counterparts, but do the required job for a really competitive price.
Telescopic Loft Ladders
- Don't take up much space
- Great value for money
- Portable
Telescopic ladders are great for saving space and bring a good balance of form and function. They look fantastic and can fit into most loft hatches, even the smallest of sizes. Once you've finished using one, it can fold up neatly into a small, space-saving package! The standout benefit of using a telescopic loft ladder is their outstanding value, as their simple design results in a much more attractive price.
Electric Loft Ladders
- Remote controlled
- Semi- or fully-automatic
Electric loft ladders are another type of ladder that you can install to access your loft. These are available in either semi-automatic and fully electric forms, and work in the same way as folding loft ladders, albeit via remote control.
Here at SLG, we supply our very own range of ladders that include some of the variations mentioned. These are fully adjustable, coming in three different lengths and with a host of other beneficial features.
If you want help with choosing a loft ladder, or would like to learn more about a particular product for your loft, then please do not hesitate to get in touch with us today.