Loft Ladders are the most common means of access to your loft, which is often a highly underutilised room in your home that acts as secure storage or extra living space. But which is the best one? As is the way with many products that have multiple choices, the best one entirely depends on your individual needs and circumstances.
We here at BPS have decided to create a blog outlining the different options available for you, so you can make an informed choice. For more information, please read on.
Types of Loft Ladder
Folding Loft Ladders
Folding Loft Ladders are the most common type of loft ladder and is considered the default choice of many. It’s named the way it is due to the hinged sections the folding loft ladder is made up of, which are pulled down through a loft tool. This simple mechanism makes it highly accessible.
One of the main draws of this particular ladder is its economical, space-saving design. When not in use, it is put in a folding position that intrudes on very little space, which is perfect for lofts where space is at a premium.
Folding Loft Ladders are often made of aluminium, which is a very lightweight but durable metal. This makes the ladder installation less taxing on the muscles and offers a low but secure level of resistance when handling it. There’s next to no area in which a loft ladder cannot be used as a result, as it’s accessible to all.
Add these two with the fact that folding loft ladders tend to be the cheapest on the market, and it’s easy to see why it’s considered the default for so many customers.
Telescopic Loft Ladders
Telescopic Loft Ladders get their name from their mechanical similarity to telescopes. They are made up of sections that slide, extracting or retracting out from their place in the ceiling. This adjustable nature often means that it’s compatible with most ceiling heights, as you can use it to maximum efficiency even if it’s at a much lower height than is otherwise specified, which wouldn’t be the case with folding loft ladders, for example.
BPS’ telescopic loft ladders come with auto-locking rungs that will refuse to allow the ladder to extend any further than you manually allow, which makes the ladder amongst the safest to use. It also comes with rubber feet, a material that has high friction properties, to provide a perfect grip on just about any floor.
These ladders are also easy to install. In a closed, retracted position, you can disable the locking mechanism and take it to another area that is needed. This, combined with its lightweight aluminium design, makes it a popular choice for those who are DIY enthusiasts and contractors.
Overall, the flexibility of these ladders is what makes them a popular choice.
Sliding Loft Ladder
Sliding Loft Ladders are another type of loft ladder whose main boast is simplicity in design. Much like the name suggests, the ladder has the ability to slide out its tracks from a retracted position to an extended one.
Our sliding loft ladders come with extra safety features that enhance the experience rather than get in the way. Supplied free is a red handrail that allows you a perfect and secure grip as you use the ladder, as well as strong spring-loaded locking catches for safety and stability.
Concerta Loft Ladders
Concertina is a type of loft ladder that is made up of sections that expand or retract into each other like an accordion. The rungs interlock in a cross-crossing zig-zag pattern. The extent of its compression makes it amongst the best ladders for those looking to minimise space or wanting portability.
Our personally designed Concertina Loft Ladder is a unique design, fitted with rubber-coated, non-slip treads for extra safety. It fits in just about any sized hatch. It will last a lot longer than other Concertina due to our strong steel carriage and bolts.
This is easily the most flexible loft ladder on the market, allowing you even to change the angle at which you climb through its bending rungs.
Vertical Loft Ladders
Vertical Loft Ladders are loft ladders that are mounted within loft hatches that are built on a vertical dimension. This means that you’ll be opening and pulling out this loft ladder on a wall, rather than from directly below. This is useful for access to areas of the house that can’t be accessed from below.
The ladders themselves can be anything from a folding ladder to a concertina ladder. Nonetheless, whichever type of ladder it is, it can be made available by pulling on a cord/chain. They are also equipped with counterbalance mechanisms that keep the ladder in place, but also make it easy to open/close, making it accessible to even those with limited strength and mobility.
Vertical Loft Ladders are actually quite popular in commercial/industrial settings. You can often find the ladders being heavy-duty, supporting a higher weight capacity than others in the market, as well as often being compatible with security lock systems to keep out unauthorised personnel.
What’s the best loft ladder for you?
As we said before, the loft ladder you need is entirely dependent on your circumstances.
Best Loft Ladders for the Elderly
The loft ladder best suited for elderly users will be those that possess a lot of safety features.
Handrails are the feature that immediately comes to mind. Sturdy handrails can provide support and stability when climbing the ladder, much more than the rungs or frame, which may be too wide to offer a firm grip. The treads should also have anti-slip properties on the treads such as high traction to prevent slipping.
On top of that, it has to be easy to access. Looking for this feature can be as simple as narrowing down ladders by whether they have a spring-loaded mechanism or a counterbalance system. Both of these make the operation of the ladder easy for those with limited strength and mobility. For those with a higher budget, you could also look into electric-powered loft ladders. This would enable access to the loft with a simple click of a button.
Overall, from what we’ve outlined, our very own sliding loft ladder fits the bill perfectly. It comes complete with both handrails and wide D-shape treads to ensure safe and comfortable use.
Best Loft Ladders for small hatches
There’s a wider range of options when it comes to loft ladders for small hatches.
Our first contender is the Concertina Loft Ladder. They are ideal loft ladders for small hatches due to their ability to contract both vertically and horizontally. On top of this, of all the ladders on this list, it is the most compact. This means there’s little clearance space needed for this ladder when it is fully retracted. The lack of obstruction that comes from this is beneficial when you’re working with a hatch that is smaller than usual.
Next, we have a certain type of Telescopic Loft Ladder. Plenty of these make for good loft ladders for small spaces, and some are even specifically designed for them. You’d have to look for one that can be adjusted to fit the height of your hatch and is also designed to be horizontally more condensed.
If you’re looking for loft ladders for small spaces in a commercial setting, like your small business, then you might be inclined to consider a vertical wall ladder. These ladders are usually set into the wall, meaning it’s entirely possible for them to stay extended or partially retracted if you have limited clearance space.
What’s the best loft ladder material?
There are three ladder materials:
Wooden loft ladders are very sturdy and durable and provide especially good insulation for your loft. This is because wood is a naturally good insulator and can prevent heat loss from your attic space as a result. Aesthetically, they also give a very homey atmosphere and feeling to your home. It also dampens the footsteps made whilst climbing the ladder. They are, however, usually the heaviest of all ladders, so they may not be the best bet for owners with limited physical strength.
Aluminium loft ladders are strong, but very lightweight ladders. Most metal ladders are made from this material due to the great handling offered by the material. On top of that, it offers high resistance to corrosion, which can be important for lofts that have a lot of moisture. However, they provide much less insulation than wooden ladders, and in fact, they have high conductivity, meaning they can steal and transfer heat.
Steel loft ladders boast the greatest strength of the three ladder materials and are highly durable. As a result, they are best for those needing a ladder that is not only going to be frequently used but is also capable of handling high-weight loads. Its high strength also means that it’s more stable, meaning it will shift a lot less from its use.
