Loft Ladder Measurements

If you’re planning to install a loft ladder, there are some vital calculations you’ll need to do first. Whether you’re shopping for a wooden loft ladder or a concertina ladder, you need to know if it’ll fit your home before you make a purchase.

To help you get it right, we’ve put together this loft ladder measurements guide. Do make sure that your measurements are as accurate as possible – accurate measurements will prevent complications with your loft ladder installation later on.

DID YOU KNOW? You can use the filters on our website to find a loft ladder that meets your exact requirements! Visit laddersukdirect.co.uk/shop/loft-ladders to browse our range.

Floor to Floor Height

One of the most important measurements you need to take before purchasing a loft ladder is the floor-to-floor height. Get this measurement wrong, and your loft ladder might be too long or too short!

The floor-to-floor height is exactly what it says on the tin: the distance between the floor of your loft and the floor below it (where the loft ladder will sit when fully extended). You will need to know this measurement in order to purchase sliding, concertina or telescopic loft ladders.

Floor to Ceiling Height

Floor-to-ceiling height is important because you want to make sure your new loft ladder folds away neatly and the hatch is flush to the ceiling.

To take this measurement, you need to measure the space between the floor and the ceiling of the room under your loft. This measurement is needed if you’re purchasing a folding loft ladder or a ladder that’s integrated with a loft hatch.

Hatch Clearance

When you install a folding loft ladder, you need to make sure there’s enough space for the ladder hatch to move freely. So it’s important to measure the arc between the hatch and the wall.

To take this measurement, you should measure the distance between the back of your loft hatch and the nearest obstruction in the room below.

Loft Hatch Opening

If you don’t have a loft hatch in place already, then you’ll need to take loft hatch opening measurements. These define the size of the hole you’ll need to cut to install your new loft ladder and hatch.

You may need to consider where the structural beams in the ceiling are – you definitely don’t want to cut through those! Also take into account wires, pipes and other obstructions before you start cutting.

Did we mention we sell complete loft ladder and hatch kits here at Ladders UK Direct? Don’t forget to check them out!

Horizontal & Vertical Clearance

When you’re folding your loft ladder away, it will take up some space in the attic. Ideally, you want your ladder to fit neatly into the attic without bumping into your belongings or other obstacles. If you get the horizontal and vertical clearance of your loft ladder wrong, you might have a hard time putting it away.

This measurement is usually determined by the height of your attic. To find out if your chosen loft ladder will fold away into the attic, you should check its maximum clearance in the product specification. If you can’t find it, get in touch with your loft ladder supplier.

Popular Types of Loft Ladder

Having trouble choosing the right type of loft ladder for your home? Let’s take a look at the two most popular styles…

Sliding

Sliding loft ladders are the most common type of loft ladder on the market. The sections of the loft ladder slide together to create one compact unit inside the loft ladder hatch.

Concertina

Concertina loft ladders are ideal if you have very little attic space. Rather than sliding together in large sections, the whole ladder concertinas (folds in on itself) to become a very small unit. These loft ladders are often used for mezzanine floors.

Popular Loft Ladder Materials

When it comes to choosing the right material for your loft ladder, there are two options that dominate the market: wood and aluminium.

Aluminium Loft Ladders

If you’re in the market for an inexpensive, lightweight loft ladder, aluminium is the way to go. Aluminium loft ladders can be used by most people. We’d recommend aluminium loft ladders to homeowners who want to purchase one loft ladder to last a lifetime, but don’t plan to access the attic often. This is simply because aluminium loft ladders don’t offer the most comfortable climb.

Wooden Loft Ladders

Wooden loft ladders are a beautiful, natural alternative to aluminium loft ladders. They’re made to last, can be customised using wood paints and are especially comfortable to climb because of their smooth edges. We’d recommend wooden loft ladders if you’re planning a loft conversion and want to access your attic more regularly.

Now you know a bit more about the measurements you need and the options on offer, we hope you can choose the perfect loft ladder for your home.

We offer a wide range of loft ladders including wooden ladders, mezzanine ladders, concertina ladders and even loft ladder and hatch kits! Head over to our Loft Ladders page to shop.

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Email sales@laddersukdirect.co.uk for more help finding your perfect loft ladder.

Here at Ladders UK Direct, we offer a variety of loft ladders for mezzanine floors. But which is the best product for providing easy access to a mezzanine floor?

What is a mezzanine floor?

In brief, a mezzanine floor is a raised floor that's partially open and overlooks the rest of the house or room. They're kind of like indoor balconies (but far more stylish!) People often install mezzanine floors in their houses to make use of additional space in tall rooms. Mezzanine floors are often small, snug spaces & can come in really handy when you're hosting parties. People can hang out on the mezzanine floor while still feeling involved with the party down below. The one problem with mezzanine floors is that they can be tricky to access if you don't install the right kind of ladder or staircase... that's where we come in!

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Whether you're a DIY enthusiast or a professional tradesperson, a multi purpose ladder is a valuable piece of kit for your arsenal. Like their name suggests, multi purpose ladders can be used in a variety of different ways, making them one of the most cost-effective, versatile ladder options on the market. Multi purpose ladders can commonly be used in the following configurations (although some multi purpose ladders have even more uses!):

• Step ladder - perfect when you're working at low levels or when you need your ladder to be freestanding
  
  
• Extension ladder - ideal when you need to reach up high, this ladder configuration will need to be leant against a wall
  
  
• Work platform - giving you valuable extra low-level space to work when you're doing odd jobs like painting and decorating
  
  
• Stairwell ladder - providing maximum stability while you complete jobs on un-even ground & stairs

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You may have seen this big banner on our homepage, that's because we're currently offering 10% off our ladders for Father's day! Ok, you might be asking yourself - what kind of dad want's a ladder for Father's day? But trust us when we say there are a lot of DIY-mad Dads out there who would love nothing more than a handy ladder to help them get re-inspired for a summer of DIY around the house!

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In their rawest forms, ladders are a set of steps (or rungs) joined together by a pole on either side. For centuries, ladders have been a simple yet effective climbing tool, used all over the world in construction, agriculture and around the home. There are a lot of things that wouldn't have existed if it wasn't for the humble ladder, so today we're going to take a deep dive into the history of ladders. If you want to join us for a trip back in time, just keep reading!

Ladders date back such a long time that it's hard to pinpoint the exact time or century that they were invented. That being said, the earliest evidence of ladders that we have can be found in the Spider Caves in Valencia, Spain. Here, you will find a painting of a ladder that's been etched on to the Mesolithic rock for over 10,000 years! The ladder in question appears to be flexible, made of tightly bound grass or plant material, and is being used by two men to access a honeybee nest to collect honey. 

While 10,000 years may seem like a long time to us, there's a lot of research that suggests ladders have been used for much longer than this. Lots of researchers suggest that both ancient Hebrew and Egyptian people will have used ladders to carry out a range of different tasks. Without them, we may not have some of the beautiful ancient architecture, like the Pyramids, that we are able to study today. Ladders were even mentioned in the Bible by Jacob, who dreamt of a ladder that reached from earth to Heaven. 

Skipping forwards a few thousand years, and we can see when the first patent for a folding wooden step ladder came into existence. This patent was obtained by an American man called John H. Balsley on the 7th January 1862. Thanks to Mr Balsley, foldable ladders which could be easily transported from place to place became widely available. This made it much easier for people to pack up their height access equipment and travel with it.

For a long time, the only ladders that people could build or buy were made of natural materials like wood. Widespread use of aluminium ladders didn't happen until the early 19th century. Prior to this, there was no way for ladder manufacturers of extracting enough aluminium out of the ground! For a long time, aluminium was higher in value than gold, but nowadays, aluminium ladders are easy to get hold of and won't cost you an arm and a leg.

Modern-Day Ladders

Nowadays, you can buy ladders of all different shapes, sizes and materials. Whether you need a simple wooden ladder or a sophisticated, non-conductive glass-fibre ladder, there'll be something on the modern-day market to suit your needs. 

Here at Ladders UK Direct, we offer all kinds of ladders that are suitable for both trade and domestic jobs. If you've been living in the past and using a simple wooden ladder, it might be time to drag yourself into the 21st century and invest in a lightweight, long-lasting ladder that you can rely on. Don't worry, you won't find any grass ladders here!

Extension Ladders >     Step Ladders >     Scaffold Towers >

Read More: How to Calculate the Ladder Length You Need

 As always, if you have any questions, don't hesitate to give a member of the Ladders UK Direct team a call on 01446 789538. We'll help you find the ladder you need at a great price!