Loft Ladder Installation Tips DIY or Professional Help

A loft ladder is a very functional solution that looks good and saves a lot of space while allowing you access to the top floor of the house. After all, it’s not a well-known fact that the attic is the best storage for many things and a real “treasure trove”.

However, before you get to the attic, you should first think carefully about the choice of stairs, as well as their installation – preferably already at the design phase. Therefore, if you have a flair for DIY and the right enthusiasm for work, you can go at it yourself. However, if you are afraid of some difficulties, it is better to use the help of professionals. On https://www.fakro.co.uk/loft_ladders/ you can find many types of loft ladders with descriptions of their use. We will show you below which stairs are currently the most popular and how to start their installation.

Which Loft Ladder is Best to Choose?

What type of loft ladder you should choose is usually an individual matter and depends on many factors. We are talking about your taste, the amount of free space or the dimensions of the opening in the ceiling. They may differ in construction, method of installation or safety. The following types of stairs are most commonly chosen:

Sectional (Folding) Stairs

Folding stairs are the most popular option. They are mainly distinguished by their simple construction and low price. The flap is usually attached to a special box, which has to be set into an opening made in the ceiling of the building. A folding ladder is attached to the flap itself, usually made up of three separate segments connected by hinges. This ensures that when the hatch is closed, each segment folds away and does not take up much space. To open such a staircase you have to unlock the bolt in the flap and then unfold each segment.

Scissor Staircase

Another solution that you can use is a scissor staircase. In this case, the flap is also at ceiling level. This type of staircase is, in fact, very similar to the previously discussed folding staircase. The difference lies in the mechanism. In this case, the metal ladder folds and unfolds like an accordion. In order to unfold the stairs, you must pull the lower part of the stairs. To fold the staircase push the staircase upwards and close the flap.

Mill Stairs

One more type of staircase is the millwork staircase, which is usually made of solid wood. These are certainly the prettiest and most durable. However, they are also the most expensive. What’s more, these types of loft ladders are non-folding, so they take up the most space and we don’t always have the option of using them.

What Should You Know Before Installing a Loft Ladder?

If you are wondering how to install a loft ladder, we already have the first good news for you. Well, reputable companies such as FAKRO always provide the customer with a complete kit, meaning that in addition to the hatch and ladder, you will also receive all the accessories necessary to install the product. Therefore, you should only remember about insulation materials.

Before the installation itself, you should ask yourself two more questions. The first is how to cut the loft ladder (if necessary, of course) and how the stairs will be fixed in the ceiling. It is worth remembering that when deciding to install the stairs in a concrete ceiling, you should start the work by cutting a hole in it 2 centimetres larger than the dimensions of the box. Such a hole should be cut precisely, because in case of a mistake, you may have quite a problem.

Only after the hole has been cut correctly we can proceed with the actual assembly. The whole operation is not very complicated and it is enough to follow the instructions included in the kit (each type of stair has slightly different requirements, so you should strictly follow the guidelines in the instructions). However, if you do not feel up to it or simply do not like such works, you should ask for the help of specialists who will surely do the job properly. They will ensure that the stairs will be pleasant and safe to use.