There are essentially two types of wooden loft ladders available to buy and they can be described by the way in which they are stored away into the ceiling cavity. There are known as folding ladders or sliding ladders and the type of loft ladder that you choose may well be dependent on the amount of space you have available either above or below ceiling level.

A folding loft ladder is a sectional ladder comprising either 2 or 3 sections depending on the maker and the length required. When you buy your folding loft ladder it should also come with the hatch kit combined.

Although the folding loft ladder requires a little more room than a sliding ladder the amount of space required is still only very small. When the ladder is folded it recesses into a very compact size and is stored on top of the hatch, flat to the ceiling. The extra space required is the ceiling area where the hatch is to be cut. There must be enough room between beams and other obstructions for this hatch to be created.

When choosing your folding loft ladder you should consider a few other additional factors that will give you an installation that will work safely. Something that may often be overlooked is the requirement for a loft hatch. In most cases the hatch will be included in the quoted price but if it isn’t you will be up for a further expense. You should also find out exactly how the hatch can be opened. 

Handrail and Tread Options

Optional features such as a hand rail and depth of tread should be discussed with the store before you make your purpose. Not all folding ladders come with a hand rail so make the decision early to include it in the package if you want it. Similarly some manufacturers of folding loft ladders have a range of tread sizes available. If possible, test drive the loft ladders by ascending and descending stairs with different tread sizes just to feel the difference between, say, an 80mm tread and a 70mm tread.

Folding Loft LadderMeasuring For A Folding Loft Ladder

Before you can buy a loft ladder, no matter whether it is a folding loft ladder or a sliding loft ladder, you must determine the size of the ladder you will need. The measurements necessary are different depending on the sort of ladder you are going to buy.

For a folding loft ladder you must measure the floor to ceiling height by measuring the distance from the floor where the ladder will come to rest to the ceiling directly above that resting point. You can then check the specifications of the ladder you are interested in to find the minimum and maximum floor to ceiling height for that particular ladder to determine which one you will buy.

A Folding Loft Ladder In Operation

Take a look at this short video that demonstrates just how easy it is to open and close a folding loft ladder. In this case the ladder is a Calvert Wooden Folding Loft Ladder.