How Much Are Loft Ladders?

The loft is often one of the most overlooked and underutilised areas in a house, despite the fact that the majority of properties will have one. While the loft serves a purpose in terms of creating a space full of trapped air to improve a property’s insulation, it can also be a useful area for those who see the potential in using it for storage or even as extra living space 

Whilst the attic may appear to be a fairly inhospitable place in most houses, it can have significant uses. The loft makes for a perfect place to store things in your home, but without the right accessibility, it is often difficult to use and this is what puts many people off. This is where a loft ladder offers you the solution to getting more use out of your loft.

How much should it cost to install an attic ladder?

In the UK, the typical price of a loft ladder installation will be priced at around £250 to £300. Both the materials for the installation and the labour itself are calculated into this pricing. Be warned, however, that like with all construction – there are factors that may incur additional costs. 

Then, of course, there’s the hatch itself. If you don’t have one, or if yours is not compatible for whatever reason, you’ll need a new one. A new hatch can be upwards of £500 and will take several hours to install as opposed to the 1-2 hours that replacing a ladder will usually require.

Ladders also come with different materials. Wood, for example, is the cheapest material available, and stable material for your loft access. The downside to this is, of course, the fact that it’s also the most affected by the environment. Without proper maintenance, it can degrade or even worse, become infested. Compare this to the much more durable steel, and you can see why some may choose to spend the extra money for longevity. 

There is also the matter of ladder variety. There are different types of ladders, with different functions and capabilities. The differences between them will be explained later in this article. Additionally, the distance from your hatch to the floor is also factored into the overall price. 

The following are the overall costs of ladder installations with both materials, professional labour and the height-to-ground ratio calculated: 

What type of loft ladder do I need?

The only things that restrict your choice in buying loft ladders are the amount of space you have available in your loft and your budget. The following are the different options you could try: 

Sliding Loft Ladder – Sliding Loft Ladders are made from light metals, such as aluminium. They are folded into two, sometimes three, sections that extend and retract at will to reach your required height. 

In its retracted form, the sections are folded atop each other. This means that space will be required inside the loft itself for the ladder to be stored properly, as once it’s retracted, it needs to be pushed back up into the loft (usually via a tool). This setup is primarily suited for those who do not use their loft often. 

Folding Loft Ladders – Folding Loft Ladders are similar to Sliding Loft Ladders, the only difference being that the former is attached to the hatch itself. This means that whilst folded, the ladder rests directly on the hatch. This is perfect if your loft is not large and you need all the space you can get. 

Concertina Loft Ladders – These ladders are made from wood, and designed with deeper treads to maximise safety and stability. They are perhaps the most compact and easiest to use of all options. The rails are bendy and extendable, meaning extending and retracting is a matter of pulling the steps down from their bound position. 

So, we see that the two main factors for how much a loft ladder will cost you are the type of ladder, and whether or not a new hatch will be required. It’s important to also understand that some hatches may not be compatible with your chosen ladder. 

Can you install a loft ladder yourself?

You can install a loft ladder yourself and cut out the extra costs if you wish. However, this DIY project is not really recommended for people who have never done this type of task before. As a result, you should not attempt this if you are concerned that the task may put you more than out of your depth. After all, if it takes professionals multiple hours, it will take you even more, with risk to both the structure’s integrity and your safety. 

Both the ladder and the hatch can be supplied to you via our storefront at BPS Solutions, where you can find the highest quality equipment available. 

Below is the revised table of costs if you were to cut out the professional to attempt a loft ladder installation yourself: 

Can you install a Loft Hatch yourself? 

The first step in creating a loft hatch is the marking of its dimensions. Whilst there’s no set size regulation for loft hatches, it’s recommended to have each side measure to at least 530mm. This makes the loft accessible to a wide range of people. 

It’s at this point that a tradesman will set to work creating the physical borders of the loft by installing metal borders onto the edges, and screwing them firmly into place. This will allow for the secure installation of both the ladder and the hatch door. 

Hinges will then be fitted into the metal borders. The hatch door will be created through separate materials (light metals or plastic) and will be connected to the hinges. This will complete the hatch. 

With the brand new hatch, you will have to add support battens to the hatch to be able to combine the ladder with it for a fully working hatch. 

Needless to say, all of this is highly work intensive, and tradesmen usually have an assistant with them to help them with the installation. So, if you want to DIY a Loft Hatch to save costs, you will require not only intermediate carpentry skills, but you will need a second person to help you. 

You also need to have quite a bit of knowledge of the makeup of your loft. The rafters there are to support the roof, and damaging them with your weight can compromise the integrity of the loft itself, not to mention incur a costly fee to fix. 

That being said, aside from these qualifications, a lot of companies recognise this new demand for DIY packages. As a result, you will be able to get the whole package of what you need in one purchase. 

What are the best loft hatches?

There doesn’t exist a wide variety of hatches as there does with loft ladders. There are two main types of hatches in play today:

A dropdown hatch is a type of door that is connected to the frame of the hatch and is opened downwards by way of a hooking pole tool. Dropdown hatches are priced at around £20 to £100. They are easy and simple to operate, with more sophisticated models having higher quality-of-life properties such as spring-loaded catches. Furthermore, dropdown hatches help with the insulation of your loft, preventing the heat of your house from escaping into the loft. 

The second type of hatch is a Push-Up loft hatch, which opens up by simply pushing the door upward to unlatch it. This version costs less than the latter, being priced at around £20 – £80. There’s also more space for loft ladders to be installed. Coupled with the simple mechanism of the push-up hatch, it also provides a lot more space within the loft. 

There are no regulations in place as far as loft hatches go, meaning there’s no need for planning and approval with the local government. Your loft will only require regulation permissions if you plan to make it into a living space. 

Insulation

It’s important to understand that by making modifications to the ladder and especially hatches, you are affecting the insulation of your loft. Poor insulation leads to energy loss, leading to increased energy costs. The hatch, being an opening, is the place where most energy will seep through. 

As a result, an uninsulated hatch door will generate a loss. That being said, even a very good hatch will not mean much if your loft isn’t insulated on a rafter level, to begin with. Make sure you take a look and try to understand the level of protection your loft already has. 

Please contact us at BPS today if you wish to enquire about loft ladder solutions.