Loft Ladders - opinions please

[craftynclothy]

At the moment we have a really small loft hatch. Hardly anything fits through the hole so there's not much stored up there and most of it is dumped in our bedroom (admittedly in an alcove so not too much hassle).

Anyway we've had a few quotes for getting a new hatch made and a ladder fit but every person has given a different opinion .

Person A: Have used in the past for other stuff. Recommended a space saving aluminium ladder. Around £320 (but was a while ago so would need to get a new quote)

Person B: Recommended moving the loft hatch slightly, doing some fixing work to the timbers in the loft to allow this, wooden ladder. £380 Tbh this is my preferred option because the guy seemed to consider what would be easiest for actually using the ladder (basically the other options come out from the hatch towards the bathroom door and this option moves it all round 90 degrees so they come down towards the top of the stairs instead)

Person C: Recommended a 'normal' 2 part aluminium ladder, new bigger hatch but in same position as it currently is £170

So, any opinions on whether there's much difference between aluminium ones or wooden? Do the quotes seem reasonable - there seems to be a lot of difference between A & C for fairly similar work?

I expect they'd get a fair bit of use as I'm hoping to put some fabric up there.

the wooden ones do seem more rigid when you are climbing them

however they are quite a bit heavier and if you are not tall and strong you might find it awkward pulling it down and pushing it up.

Aluminium ones are cheaper to buy.

If the hatch is being enlarged, it is OK if it is being lengthened between the loft timbers, but needs much more work if you are actually cutting through a timber, as this will weaken the structure and the cut ends have to be supported. In modern houses they are likely to be about 600mm (two feet) apart, so a hatch can be two feet wide but four feet long if you want..

I think aluminium "ordinary" ones are cheapest, then wood, then the aluminium spacesaving concertina ones -it could explain the difference between A and C if that's the kind A means, or at least part of the difference.

I've only ever had aluminium ones, so I don't know why B has particularly said wood - might be worth asking them why they suggest that rather than aluminium.

We use a telescope ladder to reach our loft:
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B003KIUKYA/?tag=hydra0b-21&hvadid=9557926269&ref=asc_df_B003KIUKYA

sorry link:
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B003KIUKYA/?tag=hydra0b-21&hvadid=9557926269&ref=asc_df_B003KIUKYA

Person B recommended the Fakro ladder in this picture. He markets himself as a joinery business so presume that explain why he'd recommend wood (maybe?). Person c is more a "Loft Ladder Fitting" business.

PigletJohn I think person B was recommending cutting through a timber. I know he said that if we had quotes from other people to make sure they were going to sort the timbers properly.

We had a 3 part aluminium ladder with handrail installed along with a new hatch door and that cost £160 inc vat. We are in the SE.

my slight concern with having the ladder come down to the top of the stairs, is that if you fall off the ladder, or drop something, there could be a longer fall.

p.s.

That folding wooden one looks nice, if the ceilings are not too high. Mine are just over three metres so I doubt the woman in the picture would be able to reach it as shown.

I had this done a few years ago.

We live in a modern house so typical loft hatch, and the people who sold us the house actually unscrewed the ladders that were attached to the loft floor and took them leaving us with no ladders

We had the loft hatch enlarged, and have wooden ladders, very sturdy.

They are these ones abru I am 5ft 5inches and the ceiling height here is 2.4m I have to use a pole to unhook the hatch but can then pull the ladders down easily.

I love the bigger hatch as when I am carrying stuff into the loft I have loads of space. The builder did cut through the timber but it has been reinforced with batons.

The ladders that attach to the hatch means you don't have to calculate height clearance in the loft space.

Think mine cost £280 ish for the whole job.