Telescopic ladder for loft access - good idea?

11 replies

stillfrazzled · 08/02/2011 20:30

I've got high ceilings, an old-fashioned loft hatch and lots of stuff I need to store!

Haven't really got the £££ for a properly installed loft ladder, so I was wondering about getting a telescopic ladder? Found one for £70 on eBay, and it would be handy for other stuff too as we don't have a ladder.

Is this a good idea? Anyone got one instead of a 'proper' loft ladder?

OP posts:

elsiemarley · 08/02/2011 22:27

Converted loft here...but in the past I have gained access by any means, step ladders, telescopic ladders, chairs.

Ladders are a bit of a PITA but they work, just make sure you don?t swing it round too much and take out any ornaments on your way through the house.

EsmeWeatherwax · 08/02/2011 23:37

I have a proper loft ladder in mine, and it really wasn't that expensive! The ladder itself was only about £60 from B&Q, and I don't think they're that hard to install either.

JaquesTouatte · 09/02/2011 01:05

Is there a reason why you don't want to use a stepladder?

MrMayoNessie · 09/02/2011 07:50

Where will you store the ladder?, pita if you need to go outside get the ladder and bring it into the house just to go up the loft and as elsie says a nightmare to get up stairs and into position

Mirage · 09/02/2011 14:07

Just had a big hatch and telescopic ladder fitted today.I was so fed up of dragging a ladder through the house and trying to squeeze through a tiny hatch.I'm very pleased with how easy it is and am happily planning on getting rid of loads of clutter up there.Ours was £330 all in.You can buy the hatch plus ladder from Wickes for £99,but need to fit it yourself/find someone else to do it.

greenlotus · 09/02/2011 14:18

We have have a stepladder just kept upstairs at the side of a wardrobe for getting up into the lofts. DH has pointed out it will also be useful if we have a fire and need to escape from an upstairs window!

PatriciaHolm · 09/02/2011 14:24

We have a great telescopic ladder from Clas Ohlson, cost about £100, for this. Our loft hatch is an awkward size so standard loft ladders don't fit. So we bought a small telescopic one which fits in a cupboard upstairs.

Deux · 09/02/2011 19:11

I had a loft ladder installed and a new hatch door. The opening was wide enough. It cost c£180. I used Surrey Lofts and they were fab.

It's one of the things we have done in the house that has made a huge difference. I use the loft a lot more and can get up and down without having to get DH to help/haul a ladder upstairs.

I think if you can stretch your budget a bit more then get a proper loft ladder installed.

Original poster

stillfrazzled · 10/02/2011 12:31

Thanks for all the advice!

We have a stepladder but it's only just tall enough to reach the loft and shove things up there, so I can't actually get into the loft and organise things.

I could get a hatch fitted, but TBH we're paying to do so many other things around here that I could do with not spending that much. I was thinking that we need a ladder anyway, so if I got a small one that could live under the stairs it would still be useful for other things, and when we've got more money we can do the hatch properly.

OP posts:

SixtyFootDoll · 10/02/2011 12:42

We bought telescopic ladders off ebay and they arr great, we keep them in the spare bedroom,really easy to use.

SixtyFootDoll · 10/02/2011 12:42

We bought telescopic ladders off ebay and they arr great, we keep them in the spare bedroom,really easy to use.

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