Wooden Loft Ladders

One of the problems that may be encountered when installing a folding loft ladder or pull down stairs is the loss of insulation in that part of the ceiling. By cutting out a hole in the ceiling and then placing a wooden loft ladder or an aluminium loft ladder on the hatch itself, you are leaving yourself exposed straight through to the roof above.

You certainly don’t want your heating or cooling bills to skyrocket simply because you have chosen to increase your storage space by making use of the attic. While wooden loft ladders are terrific devices that afford you access into the ceiling without losing floor space it is necessary to compromise the ceiling and anything that is directly above it.

There are insulation covers available for loft ladder hatches that will fit over the folded loft ladder and provide you with the insulation that you would have otherwise lost. The insulation that you would require would come in a box shape so that it could fit over the ladder while it is in its folded state.

In the US the Department of Energy advises that a ¼ inch gap around the perimeter of an attic access can leak the same amount of air supplied by a typical bedroom heating duct. Sealing around the edges will only partly solve the problem with weatherstripping required on the hatch itself or inside the hatch itself.

Your alternative is to build an insulation box. The box that you might use to compensate for the lost insulation may be made from rigid foam or fibrous ductboard. It would fit over the top of the ladder and you would seal the sides with caulk or expanding foam to ensure there are no gaps when the entire unit is closed.

When the loft ladder is unfolded the insulation box will still be sitting in place. As you ascend the stairs you can then simply push the box up and out of the way in order to access the attic itself.

For an excellent diagram on how the insulation box for attic pull-down stairs or a foldable wooden loft ladder would work you can visit the Department of Energy website. Also on this page is a diagram of the way you might go about insulating a scuttle hole cover.

In some cases it may not be completely suitable to buy wooden loft ladders so it is important to be aware of some of the alternative types of aluminium loft ladders that are available instead. In this case we will take a brief look at telescopic loft ladders.

A telescopic loft ladder provides a ladder solution that is extremely compact, easy to adjust and able to be fit into extremely small spaces. It is a lightweight solution that can also be adjusted to suit whatever height you are looking at covering.

When you buy a telescopic loft ladder you will find that it is already fully assembled. It will be folded up or convenience and will take up very little room in this format. The ladder is stored above the loft hatch and when it is needed can simply be pulled down thanks to a supplied fabric cord.

It is possible to buy a telescopic loft ladder in one of two configurations: either a model that automatically locks the treads as it moves down into place or one where the treads can be manually locked.

Possibly the best known brand when it comes to telescopic loft ladders is the Telesteps Telescopic Loft Ladder. These ladders are completely housed within the frame of the loft and a ladder that extends to 2.4m in length can compact down to fit in a hatch measuring as small as 480 x 550mm. However there are larger versions of this ladder that extends to a height of 3.2m.

There are two types of Telesteps loft ladders, the original model cam with treads that automatically lock into place. This ladder is known as the Telesteps Black Line and it was later joined in the market with the Telesteps Red Line Loft Ladders that is similar in quality to the Black Line ladders except the treads are manual locking. The Red Line is the lower priced option with ladder prices starting around £140 compared to a starting price of around £220 for the Black Line. (Note, these prices include the loft ladders only, the loft hatch must be purchased separately).

An added advantage with a telescopic loft ladder is that it is adjustable so that it can be altered to suit the height under which it is installed.

There is no doubting the strength and quality of the telescopic loft ladders that are being manufactured today. They provide a handy alternative to a folding wooden loft ladder giving you the option of installing a loft ladder in an area of the attic where it may have otherwise been impossible.