Essentially, loft ladders work in the same way as extension ladders and step ladders, with the exception that instead of you having to physically extend them upwards, they use gravity to extend downwards.
Loft ladders are extremely easy to use and store and eliminate the need to pull step ladders up to gain access to your loft space, which in turn reduces the possibility of injuring yourself. Loft ladders make accessing the loft a much more straightforward matter, meaning you are much more likely to make use of your available loft space. If you have a loft with a small amount of space, check out our article walking you through your options.
Selecting a Loft Ladder
Loft ladders span from the floor to the ceiling when opened, yet when closed, the compact ladders neatly fold or glide into the loft space.
The loft ladder hatch is securely fastened to the ceiling joists, ensuring that it will last for many years. It is critical that you measure the distance between the joists and select the best ladder for your measurements; doing so will make loft ladder installation much easier because there will be no need to make any structural changes or alterations.
Loft ladders come in various types, and the most popular are folding, sliding, or scissor/concertina configurations which are typically made of steel, aluminium, or wood. All of these are useful if you need to access your loft frequently, whether for a home office, a walk-in closet, or simply to store luggage or Christmas decorations.
In this next section, we will look at how each type of loft ladder works in more detail.
How Do Folding Loft Ladders Work?
Folding loft ladders typically come in three or four sections that collapse in on themselves.
When the hatch is opened, it is unlocked by using a key pole, and the spring-loaded ladder gently opens. You don’t need to worry that the loft ladder will come hurtling down and land on you as the spring will stop this from happening.
The folding loft ladder does not come down right to the floor unless you physically pull it down yourself.
To close the ladder once you have finished, you can push it back up and it will fold up easily with the help of its hinges. You can then push the ladder back up into the hatch using the key pole. It’s not a strenuous task as the springs absorb much of the weight.
How Do Sliding Loft Ladders Work?
The bottom section of a sliding loft ladder slides up and down, while the top section is permanently attached to the hatch.
Similar to the folding loft ladder, a pole is used to open a sliding loft ladder hatch, and then that pole pulls and slides the bottom portion down so you can use it.
Once you have finished using your sliding loft ladder, simply slide the bottom section up and use the key pole to close the hatch. The bottom, sliding section of the ladder lays flat on the loft floor so you will need to ensure there is enough clearance room in the loft to accommodate this.
How Do Concertina Loft Ladders Work?
The metal concertina loft ladder is ideal for homes with limited loft or landing clearance since it expands and retracts to take up a lot less room in your loft space compared to other types of loft ladders on the market.
A key pole, similar to the ones we have already mentioned, is used to open the hatch and gently release the scissor loft ladder.
The bottom of the ladder is pulled higher when each part collapses (concertina-style), and the key pole is used to close the hatch once you have finished.
Summary
All loft ladders function in similar ways, so the choice is dependent on the available space in your loft, as well as your aesthetic choice. What is clear is that a loft ladder can make all the difference when it comes to accessing your loft space, making it much easier and safer.
If the time has come for you to make the most of your loft space with a new loft ladder, contact BPS Access Solutions. We can help you choose the right loft ladder option for your situation.
