Loft ladders have been around for centuries, and have only improved in design, safety and value along the way. The term itself can be a little confusing for people from the United States, because we usually call them attic ladders. In the UK, just about any room below the roof, but not on the main floor is called the loft. Today the designs of different loft ladders vary in the hundreds, if not thousands. These devices and their installation can be as minimal as just leaning a ladder toward the entrance, or well designed, and aesthetically pleasing to compliment the room where it is installed.
Some of the different types of ladders include the following: aluminum, concertina, electric, timber or wooden, and of course the most popular in the USA is the telescopic or folding loft ladder. Whatever type you chose, make sure that they are installed properly, and have the necessary safety accessories to help preventing slips and falls.
Generally, you can have a ladder designed for gentle and easy climbing to prevent hurting one’s self while using the ladder. A gradually sloped ladder that has deep rungs and a wide width will be very handy in cases of carrying objects in one hand while climbing with the other.
A very popular use for loft ladders in the United States is for log cabins that have loft bedrooms about the living area. Some fold up out of the ways, while others are on a castor system that allows you to push the ladder to the side to free up room down stairs while not in use. This type of ladder will require professional installation after your loft construction is completed. Make sure to keep extra paint or wood stain that was initially used so the ladder can be touched up in the future.
Immediately replace all rubber skid pads that become worn from normal wear and tear to prevent falls. Periodically check any metal hardware that can become lose from use as well. Nuts and bolts on loft ladders can become lose over time and impose a safety risk. Ask your loft ladder reseller about maintenance on the item when researching your purchase.
Make sure that you know the maximum weight the ladder can handle to prevent damage to your ladder and of course preventing hard to your family. Lastly, if you are having a custom loft ladder built, make sure you get the blueprints, or design sketches with the dimensions listed incase it has to be repaired or rebuilt in the future.
Loft