When it comes to home renovations, you can spend months researching and planning before you make a start. This planning process is absolutely vital, after all, you don’t want to fork out hundreds of pounds of hard-earned money on a home improvement that either isn’t practical or doesn’t fit your home’s aesthetic.
While you might think that choosing a loft ladder is a fairly straightforward decision, there are a lot of factors to take into consideration. Nowadays there’s a plethora of different designs, materials and mechanisms for you to choose from, so it’s important that you take your time and choose wisely.
What are you using your attic space for?
The first major question you should ask when you’re deciding which loft ladder is right for your home is – what will you be using the attic space for?
Lots of people use their attic as a storage space, meaning things like Christmas decorations and old pieces of furniture need to be carried up and down the ladder on a semi-regular basis. In this scenario, we’d recommend that you choose a sturdy aluminium loft ladder in either a sliding or concertina style. These ladders are perfectly capable of supporting your weight along with the items you want to store in the loft. In addition, they’re very discreet and easy to manoeuvre, meaning you can gain access to your loft and tidy away the ladder with ease.
Other people decide to make the most of their attic space by turning it into a trendy loft conversion. This additional living space is a great asset if you have a growing family or frequent guests, and can even add value to your home. In this scenario, wooden loft ladders are an excellent solution. They can be installed as a more permanent fixture in your home and they won’t take away from your existing décor. In fact, their wooden surface can be painted so that your new loft conversion blends seamlessly with the rest of your home.
What style of loft ladder would suit your home?
Long gone are the days when you could only find one style of loft ladder. On today’s market, you will find spiral staircases, space saving staircases and concertina ladders to name a few. Here are some of the key features of some of the most popular loft ladder designs. These should help you decide which ladder style would suit your home best.
Concertina loft ladders
Concertina loft ladders boast a compact, collapsible design which makes them ideal for lofts with minimal space. Concertina loft ladders can also be used to access mezzanines within your home.
Spiral staircases
If you’re looking for a trendy loft ladder, spiral staircases are the way to go. They take up a surprisingly small amount of floor space but create a big visual impact. They can also be used to access mezzanines.
Sliding loft ladders
The most traditional loft ladder option on the market is the aluminium sliding loft ladder. These loft ladders are long-lasting and very easy to use. Because they’re made of aluminium, they’re very lightweight, making them suitable for all users.
Wooden loft ladders
Wooden loft ladders come in all shapes and sizes, but are generally most popular amongst people who are looking for permanent access to their loft. They can be painted to match the décor in your home.
Aluminium loft ladders
If you’re not too bothered how your loft ladder will look, but you want a loft ladder that’s lightweight and long-lasting, aluminium is the way to go. Aluminium ladders aren’t the easiest on the eye, but they are a budget-friendly option.
When you know what you’ll be using your loft for and how you want your loft ladder to look and function, you should have no problem choosing the right loft ladder for your home.
