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Best attic ladder 2018 – [Buyer’s Guide]
Last Updated March 1, 2023
Looking for ways to bring your attic ladder to the next level? Then you’ve come to the right place. I’m Brayden Diaz. After spending over 52 hours comparing at least 16 attic ladder, I am recommending the best attic ladder of 2018
In fact, it was the first time I had been in this situation and what I thought was going to be a very quick and easy task turned out to be a good many weeks of research. Like most products, some outdo others, so use my top three list below to get started on your search for the best attic ladder of 2018.
Best attic ladder of 2018
I have taken the initiative to educate you on the top three best attic ladder that you can buy this year. There is a wide range of products available on the market today, and below I have reviewed 3 of the very best options. Customers need to be careful on how they spend their money on these products. You can make a choice based on the my list as you shop.
Test Results and Ratings
| Rank | №1 | №2 | №3 |
| Product |  |
 |
 |
| Total | 4.8 | 4.5 | 4.3 |
| Style |
5 points
|
5 points
|
4 points
|
| Materials |
5 points
|
5 points
|
4 points
|
| Durability |
4 points
|
4 points
|
5 points
|
| Quality |
5 points
|
4 points
|
4 points
|
| Awards |  |
||
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
How to save up to 86%? Here is little trick.
You must visit the page of sales. Here is the link. If you don’t care about which brand is better, then you can choose the attic ladder by the price and buy from the one who will offer the greatest discount.
№1 – Louisville Ladder AA2210 Elite Aluminum Attic Ladder Type IAA
| Total: |
4.8
|
Why did this attic ladder win the first place?
I also liked the delivery service that was fast and quick to react. It was delivered on the third day. The product is very strong. Its material is stable and doesn’t crack. I really enjoy the design. It is compact, comfortable and reliable. And it looks amazing! I am very happy with the purchase. It is definitely worth its money. The product is top-notch!
5
|
5
|
4
|
5
|
№2 – OxGord Aluminum Telescopic 12.5 Feet Heavy Duty Extendable Work
| Total: |
4.5
|
Why did this attic ladder come in second place?
I recommend you to consider buying this model, it definitely worth its money. The material is pretty strong and easy to wash if needed. This is a pretty decent product that perfectly fitted the interior of our office. Managers explained me all the details about the product range, price, and delivery.
5
|
5
|
4
|
4
|
№3 – Louisville Ladder AA229GS Elite Aluminum Attic Ladder 350 Pound Capacity 22.5-Inch by 54-Inch Opening Ceiling Height 7-Foot-9-Inches to 10-Foot
| Total: |
4.3
|
Why did this attic ladder take third place?
I hope that the good reputation of the manufacturer will guarantee a long-term work. It doesn’t squeaks nor bents. Looks great in my apartment. I liked the design. We’ve been using it for 2 months and it still looks like brand new. This price is appropriate since the product is very well built.
4
|
4
|
5
|
4
|
attic ladder Buyer’s Guide
Gaps at hinges
A sure sign that something is sagging, putting excessive strain on the hinges. Check and tighten all bolts on the stringers, and make sure the jamb is stoutly anchored, as described below. A gap like this could also result from a bottom section that has not been properly trimmed to fit.
Getting the Right Fit
You’ll need at least three critical measurements: the width and length of the rough opening, and the ceiling height (image 3, left). Measure the rough opening’s width and length in three different spots, at the top and bottom of the framing. Choose a stair that fits into the smallest of these measurements and is long enough for your ceiling height; you may have to trim to fit. For a folding or sliding stair in a closet or other tight space, you also need to measure how much swing clearance and landing length the stair will need when lowered. Drop a plumb bob from the header and measure out from it to find this distance.
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Location
Attic ladder kits are designed and made to fit between existing floor framing of the attic. Usually, an existing attic access hole is enlarged just a little. It would be convenient for you if this is your situation. If not, you have to cut and frame a new access hole. Make sure that the location you choose gives the bottom of the ladder enough space to maneuver.
Spacing and Orientation of Joist & Truss
Standard-sized attic ladder kits are made to fit between floor joists or trusses with a spacing of 24” (2inches). This indicates an open space of 21/2” between each joist pair. If your existing framing spacing is 21/2”, you may choose to install the ladder here. But if you want a different location, you would need additional framing.
There is a chance that the joists are placed in the wrong direction for your ladder installation. If you will encounter this problem, just cut the joists and surround the opening with doubled-up headers and joists. However, you can’t apply this solution when it comes to trusses. You will have to seek professional advice.
Length and Weight
You need to measure the distance from the floor to the attic opening. Once you know the length you need, choose the best fit and appropriate size. Weight pertains to the ladder’s load capacity. Generally, the sturdier it is, the more weight it can carry. To determine the load capacity you will look for, identify the weight of the heaviest person who will be using the ladder including the heaviest load that will be hauled. A 250-lb capacity may be suitable but if you are the conservative type, a 300-lb capacity would be comfortable for you.
Material
Attic ladders are not just made of aluminum. There are also attic ladders that are made of steel and wood. However, the top-rated choice is the aluminum, not just because it is lightweight and strong but it’s also rust-resistant.
Aluminum attic ladders are rarely affected by temperature and humidity, so it could last for years. Even though a wood ladder could also last for years, it more prone to moisture and temperature as well as probable natural defects.
Insulation
Significant sources of heated and cooled air loss in a home are attic access panels and stairs or ladders. It is best to consider products with tight-fitting doors and insulation. You can also apply weatherstripping around the door opening to prevent air leakage. Slow down the heat loss by covering the panel door with rigid foam insulation board.
Attic Ladders
You can watch a video or read this short article about how to measure the ceiling height for an attic ladder.
Most attic ladder’s floor to ceiling distance is determined from where the door panel is measured, down to the floor at maximum height.
First take a tape measure and measure the ceiling down to the floor at the point where you expect the stairway will touch the floor.
As installers of residential attic ladders, safety is our utmost priority.
We abide by stringent safety standards to ensure the gateway to your refurbished roof space makes you feel comfortable.
When selecting an attic ladder, you’ll be presented with plenty of choice, from the Attic Studio to our Australian-made Stairladder Deluxe. However, you’ll certainly appreciate the safety features built into all our products.
For example, our most popular ladder – the Stairladder Deluxe, is spring assisted for finger-tip operation, making it very easy to use and fold away. It supports up to 410kg of weight and is equipped with a full length safety handrail for excellent climbing stability.
Our attic ladders
If you’re wondering what ladder is right for you, here are some handy suggestions.
The Stairladder Deluxe is the crème de la crème of residential attic ladders, with a three section folding design, a full-length safety handrail and plated adjustable balance springs. It’s suitable for frequent use, has a 410kg spread load capacity and is constructed from superior hoop pine timber.
For truss roofs, we recommend the Upgrade which is also perfect for high ceilings with models available up to 3.6metres. It has a 220kg spread load and constructed from superior fine-grained plantation-grown Australian hoop pine.
If you’re after an economy ladder for occasional use, the Attic Studio or Attic Performance models are a great option – particularly if you’re dealing with a confined space. It comes ready assembled, ready to install and with full instructions making home installation for the DIY builder trouble-free.
The Attic Performance comes in metal or Nordic pine. The metal ladder holds up to 200 kg and has double hinges, giving it a high load resistance. It’s even got an insulated trapdoor to minimise heat loss.
Universal Fit for Ceiling Heights ft to ft.
The Werner AE22Energy Seal Attic Ladder fits attic openings 22.in x 5in. and is constructed of light weight, aluminum construction with a 37lbs load capacity. This unit fits all ceiling heights from ft to ft. and allows you to cut down the legs to ensure a secure and solid footing. We found the ladder and all of the components, durable and rugged.
Smooth Performance
Two side-mounted, gas struts allow the door to open smoothly and control the door when closing. The struts allow a controlled, smooth and slam-free method of closing the door. They also eliminate those large, bulky springs not only get in the way but often break. These struts are narrow, low profile and are easily replaced if needed.
Installation
The Werner AE22Energy Seal Attic ladder installation went according to plan, easy and smooth. It fits into a rough opening of 22-1/in x 5in.
The unit was slightly smaller than the unit it replaced so we added four pieces of half inch plywood, two rips on each side to reduce the width by two-inches. It installs similar to the older inefficient wood ladder types and comes with special lag bolts to ensure strength and longevity.
Most pull-down attic stairs are leaky and poorly insulated. You can remove the stairs and replace them with a smaller hatch. The hatch should be insulated with at least in. of rigid foam, should have weatherstripping, and should be equipped with two latches that draw the hatch tightly closed.
Note that code requirements for hatches have recently been tightened. According to the 200IECC and IRC, “Access doors from conditioned spaces to unconditioned spaces … shall be weatherstripped and insulated to a level equivalent to … surrounding surfaces.” If you live in a climate zone where R-3attic insulation is required, your access hatch also should be insulated to R-38.
If you insist on keeping your pull-down stairs, you’ll need to purchase or make an insulated lid to cover the top of the stairs. Several manufacturers sell such lids; the best available product at this time appears to be the R-3Energy Guardian Pull-Down Ladder Kit (photo above).
If you choose to build your own insulated lid, you’ll need to make a strong, airtight box out of thick rigid foam. The lid needs to be heavy enough to compress the weatherstripping at its base.
The usual location of the air barrier is at the base of the stairs. In this case, you’ll need to make sure that the door is insulated and weatherstripped. If you don’t want to buy an exterior door, you can attach a layer of rigid foam to the back of your existing door, and you can reduce air leaks by installing weatherstripping.
Some attic stairways lead to a small room that encloses the top of the stairway. In this case, there should be a door at the top of the stairs. This type of stairway is part of the conditioned space, and it is easier to insulate than one with the air barrier at the base of the stairs. First, make sure that the door is insulated and weatherstripped. Then check the walls and ceiling of the attic room to ensure they are well insulated. If necessary, install an attic-side air barrier (for example, sheets of foil-faced polyisocyanurate) at these locations to prevent air leaks and to improve the R-value of the insulated assemblies.
Requirements for Energy Star homes
Structural sheathing can be used to extend above and below stringers to allow for taping with joint compound.
Factory made attic drop-down stair assemblies that are fully gasketed and include a rigid insulation panel much like an exterior insulated door are a great simple solution.
The Original Stira Folding Attic Stairs is designed to be a strong domestic attic stairs that will last a lifetime.
It has unique design features that allow the stairs to be highly flexible so it can be custom built either for extra high ceilings, extra large trapdoor openings or for tight spaces where walls obstruct the normal use of a folding attic stairs or loft ladder.
We make a range of standard sizes that would suit most homes with ceiling heights up to 9ft high. We know every house is different as we have personally fitted our attic stairs in many different types of building over the course of 30 years.
If our extensive range of standard off the shelve stairs can’t meet your needs we are one of the only major manufacturers of attic stairs that will custom build an attic stairs to meet our customers actual requirements.
Your company were a pleasure to deal with. Fergal was just fantastic – really helpful and obliging. He was a dream tradesman – did a perfect job and cleaned everything up after himself ( I had visions of hoovering for a week!).
Based on this experience we will be recommending Stira to all our friends.
J Keating
Just a brief note of thanks for a very efficient service and excellent standard of installation done by your colleague Gerry today at Blackwater, Wexford. Continued success for the future, please feel free to use us as reference for any more installs in the Wexford area.
Rang the office to compliment the fitter Seamus Burke. Very efficient.
E Deverish
How to save up to 86%? Here is little trick.
You must visit the page of sales. Here is the link. If you don’t care about which brand is better, then you can choose the attic ladder by the price and buy from the one who will offer the greatest discount.
Final Word
First of all thanks for reading my article to the end! I hope you find my reviews listed here useful and that it allows you to make a proper comparison of what is best to fit your needs and budget. Don’t be afraid to try more than one product if your first pick doesn’t do the trick.
Most important, have fun and choose your attic ladder wisely! Good luck!
So, TOP3 of attic ladder
- №1 — Louisville Ladder AA2210 Elite Aluminum Attic Ladder Type IAA
- №2 — OxGord Aluminum Telescopic 12.5 Feet Heavy Duty Extendable Work
- №3 — Louisville Ladder AA229GS Elite Aluminum Attic Ladder 350 Pound Capacity 22.5-Inch by 54-Inch Opening Ceiling Height 7-Foot-9-Inches to 10-Foot
Questions? Leave a comment below!
Chatting about attic ladder is my passion! Leave me a question in the comments, I answer each and every one and would love to get to know you better!
