Tips for Choosing Loft Ladders
14 Oct
We get lots of questions about loft ladders so thought we’d write about a few things to bear in mind if you are thinking of getting or replacing a loft ladder. There are really only three main things to consider: 1) how you will be using the loft ladder, 2) who will be using it and 3) the logistics involved (the size of the loft hatch and clearance below the space etc…). Whatever the answer to these questions, there are many models on the market that can be suitable for you – so lets have a look at a few…
Firstly, consider how you will be using the loft ladder. If the main purpose of the loft ladder is access to an attic room, then a traditional sliding loft ladder is a great choice, as they are easy to climb and operate. A space saving staircase is also a good choice, as this provides a more permanent access solution that feels like a normal staircase. Access to an attic room will involve moving items up and down from the loft such as furniture, cups of tea and personal items, so a space saving staircase or sliding loft ladder with double handrails are the two best options here. The best way to move small items up and down a loft ladder is to use a rucksack, leaving both hands free to grip the ladder. Using a second person to pass things up and take them down is also a good option, especially for anything bulky, heavy or potentially hazardous.
If you are just accessing the loft to check on water tanks, pipes and other domestic infrastructure then a concertina or telescopic loft ladder are good bets. Easy to install and taking up far less space than the other options, these loft ladders are quick to deploy and perfect for occasional use. The plus points to these styles of loft ladder are that they take up very little space both inside and outside the loft, but they are not as easy to climb, having a slightly more acute angle and no handrails. If the people using this style of loft ladder have slightly limited mobility or are not confident using ladders, then a sliding loft ladder would be a better option.
the attic has been converted into a playroom or bedroom) then a space saving staircase is the safest option. These do not need to be operated by anyone, as they are in place permanently like a normal set of stairs. They are usually supplied with handrails and a small landing (with balustrades) at the top, so they are safer for younger people, as well as older people, as there is something to hold on to.
Spacesaver staircases do not need the same amount of maintenance and inspection that loft ladders do, as they are constructed as staircases and can be treated as such. Of course, broken treads or wobbly handrails are still a concern, but in the same way these issues are a concern on a normal staircase. Sliding loft ladders can take quite regular use, but should be maintained well and checked regularly by an adult to make sure there are no rusted or broken parts.
If the people using the loft ladder are able bodied and used to using a loft ladder, then a sliding model with a single handrail will be easiest, particularly if the attic is used as a storage space and there is a regular need to store and retrieve items. However, a concertina or telescopic loft ladder will be adequate if the items in the roof are not heavy or bulky and can be easily carried. Of course, if you are moving items in and out of the attic the best and easiest way to do this is with help: someone at the bottom of the ladder to pass items up and lift them down. The concertina or telescopic models are quite high tech, so if the loft ladder is going to be used by a gadget fan, then these types are more impressive and can be shown off as the latest in loft ladder technology! The maintenance of these types of loft ladder is more involved, as they are not constructed in the traditional way most ladders are and they therefore require a more detailed inspection before use.
If the house is a listed building or just an old building, the loft hatch may not be large enough to take a sliding loft ladder and there may be restrictions on what alterations can be made to the house, making the installation of a sliding loft ladder unfeasible. A concertina or telescopic loft ladder can be fitted to the loft hatch or the frame around the hatch, which is a minor piece of work and does not alter the original structure of the house. Space saving staircases should be approached with caution for these types of building, as they are subject to the same building regulations as normal staircases, so there could be issues with altering the building to fit one of these.
Older buildings also tend to have less space on the landing, which can be an issue when deploying a loft ladder. The ground clearance needed for a sliding loft ladder is a lot bigger than what is needed for a concertina or telescopic loft ladder. New builds usually come with a larger loft hatch as well as more space on the landing, as the trend for more open space inside the home dictates that a larger landing is a feature most people want. A new build is ideal for a sliding loft ladder and some homes even come with one built in. They are not hard to fit and a carpenter can usually do the job in half a day without needing to alter the loft hatch. Altering the loft hatch to accommodate a sliding loft ladder is also not a large job, but there is a cost involved in doing so and depending on the local authorities, there may be building regulations and planning permission to deal with.
Space inside the loft is the other logistical issue to contend with. While many people do not need lots of empty space inside the loft, some houses have a shallow attic and there may not be much room around the loft hatch inside the roof. In these cases, a concertina loft 
ladder that stores on the inside of the loft hatch is a good bet, as they need virtually no horizontal clearance in the roof, and only a little vertical clearance. Telescopic loft ladders need even less clearance inside the roof and are perfect for loft spaces that are more like a crawl space. Sliding loft ladders are stored inside the roof, so if there is enough space then installing one of these shouldn’t be a problem. Although they take up space inside, the space that they do occupy serves as a useful access pathway inside the loft when they are deployed, making it easy to get into the loft and then access the items stored there.
1) What is the Loft Ladder For?
Firstly, consider how you will be using the loft ladder. If the main purpose of the loft ladder is access to an attic room, then a traditional sliding loft ladder is a great choice, as they are easy to climb and operate. A space saving staircase is also a good choice, as this provides a more permanent access solution that feels like a normal staircase. Access to an attic room will involve moving items up and down from the loft such as furniture, cups of tea and personal items, so a space saving staircase or sliding loft ladder with double handrails are the two best options here. The best way to move small items up and down a loft ladder is to use a rucksack, leaving both hands free to grip the ladder. Using a second person to pass things up and take them down is also a good option, especially for anything bulky, heavy or potentially hazardous.
If you are just accessing the loft to check on water tanks, pipes and other domestic infrastructure then a concertina or telescopic loft ladder are good bets. Easy to install and taking up far less space than the other options, these loft ladders are quick to deploy and perfect for occasional use. The plus points to these styles of loft ladder are that they take up very little space both inside and outside the loft, but they are not as easy to climb, having a slightly more acute angle and no handrails. If the people using this style of loft ladder have slightly limited mobility or are not confident using ladders, then a sliding loft ladder would be a better option.
2) Who will be using the loft ladder?
If the loft ladder is to be used by children or teenagers to access the loft space (perhaps ifthe attic has been converted into a playroom or bedroom) then a space saving staircase is the safest option. These do not need to be operated by anyone, as they are in place permanently like a normal set of stairs. They are usually supplied with handrails and a small landing (with balustrades) at the top, so they are safer for younger people, as well as older people, as there is something to hold on to.
Spacesaver staircases do not need the same amount of maintenance and inspection that loft ladders do, as they are constructed as staircases and can be treated as such. Of course, broken treads or wobbly handrails are still a concern, but in the same way these issues are a concern on a normal staircase. Sliding loft ladders can take quite regular use, but should be maintained well and checked regularly by an adult to make sure there are no rusted or broken parts.
If the people using the loft ladder are able bodied and used to using a loft ladder, then a sliding model with a single handrail will be easiest, particularly if the attic is used as a storage space and there is a regular need to store and retrieve items. However, a concertina or telescopic loft ladder will be adequate if the items in the roof are not heavy or bulky and can be easily carried. Of course, if you are moving items in and out of the attic the best and easiest way to do this is with help: someone at the bottom of the ladder to pass items up and lift them down. The concertina or telescopic models are quite high tech, so if the loft ladder is going to be used by a gadget fan, then these types are more impressive and can be shown off as the latest in loft ladder technology! The maintenance of these types of loft ladder is more involved, as they are not constructed in the traditional way most ladders are and they therefore require a more detailed inspection before use.
3) How easy is it to fit the loft ladder? What sort will work for my house?
If the house is a listed building or just an old building, the loft hatch may not be large enough to take a sliding loft ladder and there may be restrictions on what alterations can be made to the house, making the installation of a sliding loft ladder unfeasible. A concertina or telescopic loft ladder can be fitted to the loft hatch or the frame around the hatch, which is a minor piece of work and does not alter the original structure of the house. Space saving staircases should be approached with caution for these types of building, as they are subject to the same building regulations as normal staircases, so there could be issues with altering the building to fit one of these.
Older buildings also tend to have less space on the landing, which can be an issue when deploying a loft ladder. The ground clearance needed for a sliding loft ladder is a lot bigger than what is needed for a concertina or telescopic loft ladder. New builds usually come with a larger loft hatch as well as more space on the landing, as the trend for more open space inside the home dictates that a larger landing is a feature most people want. A new build is ideal for a sliding loft ladder and some homes even come with one built in. They are not hard to fit and a carpenter can usually do the job in half a day without needing to alter the loft hatch. Altering the loft hatch to accommodate a sliding loft ladder is also not a large job, but there is a cost involved in doing so and depending on the local authorities, there may be building regulations and planning permission to deal with.
Space inside the loft is the other logistical issue to contend with. While many people do not need lots of empty space inside the loft, some houses have a shallow attic and there may not be much room around the loft hatch inside the roof. In these cases, a concertina loft ladder that stores on the inside of the loft hatch is a good bet, as they need virtually no horizontal clearance in the roof, and only a little vertical clearance. Telescopic loft ladders need even less clearance inside the roof and are perfect for loft spaces that are more like a crawl space. Sliding loft ladders are stored inside the roof, so if there is enough space then installing one of these shouldn’t be a problem. Although they take up space inside, the space that they do occupy serves as a useful access pathway inside the loft when they are deployed, making it easy to get into the loft and then access the items stored there.