So, you are looking for a loft ladder to help you gain access to your loft space. All you have to do is to go out and buy one, right?
Well yes in theory, but as you will discover when you start looking around there are several different types of loft ladders on sale. The most important thing is to figure out which type of loft ladder is going to be the best one for your needs. And to do that you need to work out what kind of loft space you have and how often you will be using it.
First of all have a think about what you use your loft space for. Are you going to constantly need to be taking items up and down into the loft? If you are then you will want to have a sturdier ladder to use, perhaps one that has good handrails on either side. You would at least want a single handrail to make it easier to use when you are carrying certain items up and down the stairs.
It can also help to think about how big your loft space is. Some people simply put boards across the floor in the loft to make the space usable, and don’t do much else with it. On the other hand you might have a complete loft conversion which is essentially a usable room just like any other.
This is why it pays to think about the room and what it will be used for just as much as the actual ladder itself. If you have got a nice loft space that is used frequently, you won’t want a cheap and nasty ladder going up to it. You will probably want something much more attractive that is in keeping with the room itself.
Similarly if your loft space still has the wooden rafters and floor down, you might want to get a wooden ladder to match in with it. And if you have decorated your loft to look more modern with a high tech feel of some kind, then an aluminium ladder – perhaps a collapsible one – will be better as well.
You can see the benefits of deciding what finish your loft ladder should have. Some people will also consider the finish of the ladder with regard to the room it stands in, underneath the loft space itself. This is personal choice of course, but it does help to think about all the options before you actually buy your loft ladder.
Wooden ladders and aluminium ones are the basic two choices you have, but as you will see there are several different strengths of ladder available. As you decide how often you want to use your ladder and the appearance you want as well, you will find it a lot easier to narrow down the choices you have available.
So perhaps it is time to think about the purpose you have for your loft – and then the right ladder will be much easier to find.