The loft is a special area of the home. We often forget it exists, and that’s because in most cases, it has a pure utility function, serving as a storage area. But perhaps you’ve recently renovated or just cleaned up your loft and are now looking for an easy means of access? In that case, you need a loft ladder.
When it comes to choosing among the many types of loft ladders, there are four main categories for you to choose from:
- folding loft ladders,
- sliding loft ladders,
- concertina loft ladders,
- telescopic loft ladders.
Find out which type of loft ladder is the best for you!
Folding loft ladders
A perfect space-saving loft ladder with improved insulation, a folding loft ladder usually comes with a hatch attached to it. The ladders itself is divided into sections which, as the name suggests, fold together neatly when the hatch is closed, hence the space-saving. Due to the fact that this type of ladder comes with its own hatch, it is draught-proof, ensuring that less heat is lost.
Sliding loft ladders
This is the best choice for you if you’re looking for a type of loft ladder that’s cheap and will be used more infrequently than, for example, a folding loft ladder. Both folding and sliding loft ladders come in sections, but the main difference here is that the sections slide together when closed. They also don’t come with hatches – those have to be purchased separately. Compared to folding loft ladders, this option is far less space-efficient, though this shouldn’t be an issue if all you’re using your loft for is storage. The ladders can come with or without handrails, depending on your personal preference, but whichever option you choose, you get a solid product for a comparatively low price.
Concertina loft ladders
The concertina type of loft ladders is very similar to the folding type, but there’s a subtle yet meaningful difference – the amount of segments that fold together. Concertina loft ladders have more of them and because of that, they fold more tightly together in an accordion pattern. This results in a ladder that can be stored entirely on the trap door, taking up none of the loft space that you would otherwise use for storage. It’s also important to note that these ladders come with deeper treads than most, making them one of the safer options.
Telescopic loft ladders
There’s one thing that telescopit and concertina loft ladders have in common – they are the most compact options available. So if you’re looking for a loft ladder that will take up the absolute minimum amount of space in your loft, these two options are what you should consider. However, when it comes to its opening mechanism, it is more similar to a sliding loft ladder, as the segments of the ladder slide along each other rather than folding in a harmonica fashion. It’s definitely a very classy-looking option.