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.

There is an important aspect to buying a loft ladder that may sometimes be overlooked by the customer yet it is the part of the ladder that is going to be visible for the longest period of time. It’s the loft ladder hatch and it will be an important part of the decision making process if only for the aesthetic impact it will make in the home.

For the vast majority of cases when you buy a wooden loft ladder or an aluminium loft ladder the entire assembly comes as a complete unit with the hatch as a part of it. But it is also possible to go out and buy a separate loft ladder hatch that you may find more appealing than the types that come with your choice of ladder.

Let’s face it most people would rather have the luxury of choosing their own hatch rather than finding themselves stuck with a certain hatch because it is attached to their preferred ladder. Some companies will supply a hatch that will not only satisfy your existing décor but will also meet the important building industry codes for safety and functionality.

When you go out looking for a loft ladder hatch you can choose the style of moulding to have it decorated with if that is what you prefer. Depending on the size of the ladder that you have bought you can have the hatch made to a size that suits you and you can have the hatch insulated – again depending on the type of loft ladder you are using.

Your loft ladder hatch may be made from a UPVC material or from injection molded polypropylene, either of which can be made to blend in with the existing ceiling. In some cases the edge of the hatch can also be camouflaged by using a molding that matches the molding that has been up there for years.

Although you have the option to buy a separate loft hatch you should remember that the companies that supply loft ladders have a lot of experience when it comes to this industry and will be able to supply a quality product with their ladders. The loft hatch that comes with a particular loft ladder will have been designed especially for use with that particular ladder and so I twill be properly insulated, the weight will suit the hatch and the fit should be optimally calculated.

In the end it will come down to your own personal preference. No matter whether you buy the loft hatch as part of the loft ladder kit or separately at a later time, the installation job, when done by professional installation experts is a fast process.

Further reading available:

Buying A Wooden Loft Ladder
Wooden Loft Ladders