Loft Ladders

Loft Ladders are an economical, space-saving solution to your storage needs, giving you reliable access to a vastly underused but highly useful area of your house – the loft. They come in a variety of different materials and functions, from a standard folding ladder to a ladder built with a structure of a concertina.

If safety is your concern, BPS Depot builds each of its loft ladders to exceed safety standards set by EN14975 safety standards. Our ladders come complete with non-slip treads and rubber feet, with a multitude of optional accessories to maximise stability and accessibility.

All of our ladders have a high weight rating, meaning they can carry many heavy loads with little issue, and each is supplied with installation instructions, making it entirely possible for this to be a DIY job. Nonetheless, BPS products come complete with a no-question lifetime guarantee, free next-day delivery, and the highest quality customer service lines you could ask for.

Can I install a Loft Ladder myself?

Installing loft ladders is not a beginner-level DIY job:

• Ceiling Height – Installing loft ladders means contending with the loft opening on the ceiling, working overhead. This can be awkward and physically draining, made worse by the fact that the loft access area is often cramped.
• Tools and Skills – To install a loft ladder, you require basic carpentry skills, such as cutting, fitting, and securing the loft frame. You will need to measure the dimensions of your hatch, and your room height, to find the loft ladder suitable for your house.
• Time-consuming – Even those experienced in carpentry and DIY jobs will find that the full process will take several hours, so those who are beginner-level may find that they will take substantially longer.

There is a lot of room to go wrong with this DIY job. There will be instructions on installation to follow, but if your hatch and the frame the loft ladder comes in are incompatible, then you will need to adjust the dimensions of the space on your loft’s floor.

Benefits of a Loft Ladder

Loft accessibility is one of the biggest reasons that loft space is underused within a home. Without a loft ladder, many resort to using a regular stepladder to gain access. Having a loft ladder allows you to begin loft conversion, turning your loft into a space that you can use for specific functionality.

To add:

• Convenience – Easy access is the key to using your loft. Pulling down a ladder pre-attached, or adding electrical functionality, makes for an ideal solution when compared to the cumbersome effort of fetching a stepladder every time you want to go up. In addition, there are plenty of loft ladder accessories available to enhance your experience if the default features are not enough.
• Stability – Loft ladders are secured to the attic space with great integrity, offering safety and balance in comparison to alternate methods. Attic ladders come with an enhanced weight rating as a result meaning if you use your loft space as storage, you needn’t feel unsafe.
• Easy Servicing – A loft or attic space is typically used as a place to store a boiler, meter or water tank to free space in the rest of the home. Having an attic ladder means tradespeople benefit from improved accessibility to their job.

Are Loft Ladders Safe?

Funnily enough, a loft ladder is amongst the most secure and safe ladders in the industry. This is because they are fixed in place through nuts and bolts, meaning it would take a lot of force to threaten integrity.

That being said, it’s important to note that the vast majority of accidents on ladders come from human error, however. This is why when it comes to using loft ladders safely, you should always maintain the three points of contact rule – meaning you should always have two feet and one hand on the ladder when using it. This rule is ingrained in many working-at-height UK safety regulations for a reason.

What if I don’t have a loft hatch?

A loft hatch is a frame and hatch that the loft ladder attaches to. Without it, there is nothing to keep the attic ladder in place. In that case, the following steps will need to be taken:

1. Measure floor-to-ceiling height – This measurement is of great importance. It allows you to judge the correct loft ladder length, guaranteeing your ladder will be compatible and fit properly.
2. Mark and Cut Opening – Find a suitable place for your loft opening, measure, mark and cut it.
3. Install the Joists – In the opening, place your support joists and frame the opening.
4. Install the Ladder – This is the point at which the installation of the loft ladder will take place.
5. Finish the Hatch – The loft hatch will then be insulated, sealed and finished.

What is the best loft ladder?

The best loft ladder is the one that suits your needs perfectly. Our range of loft ladders covers all types, from telescopic loft ladders to wooden loft ladders, strong ladders for heavy loads and tall ladders for high ceilings. Regardless of your max floor-to-ceiling height, we have you covered.

The right ladder for you depends entirely on your need to operate in your loft space. Luckily for you, BPS Depot sells loft ladders for every possible need.

Can you get a loft hatch with a ladder?

Yes, loft ladders typically come as part of a package, featuring an accompanying wooden hatch that must match certain dimensions to fit correctly into your floor opening – it pays to measure ahead! Be sure to check the dimensions against your opening/pre-existing hatch.

How wide are loft ladders?

Loft Ladders have a range of sizes, and many of them are modular, meaning they can increase in size with accessories like sturdy handrails. Ensure that when you know the dimensions of your hatch, take the space beneath it into account. Without knowing the specific requirements for space, you risk incompatibility.

The wider the loft ladder, the easier it is to climb. However, this comes with the disadvantage of being heavier and also taking up more space.

How do you access your loft ladders?

The mechanism for opening your loft and accessing your loft ladder differs depending on your choice. The most common type is the pull-down loft ladder, which comes with a tool that you use to both unlock the hatch and pull down the ladder.

The loft ladders themselves can either slide, fold, or even expand like an accordion depending on the specific type of ladder. Aside from this, there’s also the option of adding electricity to the ladder for automatic use.

Where to buy loft ladders?

BPS Depot is the UK’s leading supplier of height access solutions. When it comes to industry knowledge and choice of products, our range is second to none. Available for next-day delivery across the UK, we offer professional installation services, as well as a celebrated after-sales service to help all of our customers get the most out of their products for years to come.

How much are loft ladders?

Loft ladder prices scale depending on the complexity of the design and materials used. The following are BPS Depot prices: