Need a Attic ladder

[Djstorm100]

The future Misses and I just bought our first house and the builder put a hole but not a attic ladder (the hole is covered). My question is looking at Louisville or Werner. Does anyone have any experience with either? It will be a AL type ladder..wood is not safe IMO.

Thanks!

 

[Zeke]

I like both the wood and the AL. Wood is not safe is all in your head. Anything I have ever bought at the lumber yard or home warehouse store has worked fine. I've put in about 10 altogether. The wider ones are more comfortable and allow for bigger cargo.

 

[4AudiQ]

Have you seen this solution on You Tube?

Very unique.
I have 2 pull downs: they are narrow, steep, not real sturdy, but they don't
take up much space. They are both wood steps and side boards.

 

[Djstorm100]

I had a wooden one give on me and feel about 6 feet. I'm 180 pounds then, now 165. I was not carrying anything that would excesses the limit and granted most are built with a 2-3. safety factor. It's just choice, that's all.


Those above would be great if my garage not was not finished already.

 

[pattenp]

I have a 350lb rated aluminum Louisville attic latter. It seems well made and have had no issues with it. It's close to 10 years old. I can't say one made today is as good.

 

[Duck tape Bill]

I got this one from Home Depot about a year ago so I could get into the space above my garage. I've made many trips up and down it over the last year, and it is a solid ladder. I'm ~215lbs and it hardly flexes at all, and feels very secure. I put it up by myself in a couple hours, but I think I got my wife to help for ~5 min when I was securing it in the opening, so I'd say it's mostly a one person job.

http://us.wernerco.com/en/view/Products/Climbing-Equipment/Attic-Ladders/AH/AH2210
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Werner-8-ft-10-ft-22-5-in-x-54-in-Aluminum-Universal-Fit-Attic-Ladder-with-375-lb-Maximum-Load-Capacity-AH2210B/203009107

 

[67carl]

I bought the widest, highest capacity Werner they had at Home Depot and put it in my garage ceiling. It has worked out great - I carry fairly heavy stuff up and down it without worry.

 

[harvero]

An old thread on this topic. http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=119969

 

[JimVonBaden]

I have this one and it easily holds my 250 pounds plus boxes of stuff.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Werner-7...50-lb-Maximum-Load-Capacity-AA1510B/203009104

 

[allinon72]

How difficult to install? I need to install one in a hallway.

 

[JimVonBaden]

How difficult to install? I need to install one in a hallway.

Took me 20 minutes.

 

[MDSPHOTO]

As others have mentioned get the widest one you can find. I bought a narrow one from HD and it is tough getting me and a large box up the ladder.

 

[67carl]

How difficult to install? I need to install one in a hallway.

How handy are you? It's pretty easy, and if the framing is already in place (not just a general opening, but strong framing specific for this application) then it's even easier.

You'll need drill bits, drill driver, ratchet to drive lag bolts, possibly some shims and a saw to cut the aluminum legs on the end of the ladder to length. Not much else.

You could do what I did (but I had to frame); download the installation instructions for the ladder now and get things prepped before you bring it home.

Instructions:

http://us.wernerco.com/docs/userguides/ah2210-ah2510-ae2210-manual_enesfr.pdf?Status=Master

 

[PelicanPines]

Very happy with my wooden werner. My only regret is my builder put in a 250 lb rated set. Waiting for a single step to crack before upgrading, it's been 8 years and I have used them often without fail. I added a 2 inch threaded pipe as a hand hold at the top, attached to the floor.

I like the deeper steps on the wooden ones too. IMHO

 

[Mike F]

There is a big difference between a ladder and attic stairs. The stairs are designed for a person to haul stuff up and down on, and are at a shallower angle. If you have room I say go with the stairs. I had one from http://www.bessler.comand was really pleased. I have also had the typical fold up ladder and have lost my balance while carrying things up the stairs- not a comfortable situation.

 

[Ross/Kzoo]

Here's what I had to say about Werner, good luck!

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=237627&highlight=werner

 

[dmeadow]

We've got a 10 foot ceiling with a folding wooden ladder. It is very awkward and heavy to unfold. I have to get on a step ladder to do it, which makes me uncomfortably unstable. The wife is frustrated with it because she can't operate it all and needs me anytime she wants access.

I'm thinking of replacing it with an accordian style aluminum ladder.

 

[Alan Douglas]

I installed a wooden ladder about 40 years ago; it was rickety and one of the treads broke within a few years. Recently I replaced it with a Werner aluminum model from Home Depot. But, I didn't want the gas struts that all the aluminum models use, so I used the springs and arms from the old ladder, and treated the Werner as a kit of parts to build what I wanted. The opening was also an inch too small for the Werner, and I couldn't increase it.

It obviously took a lot more time than just installing a new one by the directions, but I got what I wanted, and the ladder itself is far better than the wooden one.

 

[JimVonBaden]

We've got a 10 foot ceiling with a folding wooden ladder. It is very awkward and heavy to unfold. I have to get on a step ladder to do it, which makes me uncomfortably unstable. The wife is frustrated with it because she can't operate it all and needs me anytime she wants access.

I'm thinking of replacing it with an accordian style aluminum ladder.

I like mine. You reach up with the rod that came with it, it has a hook on the end, and pull it down. Then you push the buttons and it extends. Very stable and very easy to install/retract and pull down.

 

[Djstorm100]

UPDATE:

Got a ladder installed last night. I may turn it around so the steps face toward the garage door. The reason I faced the stairs toward the wall was as you walk up (image something big like a Christmas tree box) I would just slide it up there. If I face the stairs toward the garage door I would have to slide it up to catch the front edge of the box then turn it and place the other end up. Sounds easy as I'm typing it out but I tired it last night and it's a pain.

What ***** is I plain to put cabinets along the back wall of the garage for storage, tools, work bench top, etc. Now I'll have to figure something that I can move in and out of the area when I need the extra room to get the junk aka wife's **** from there.

my 25x30 building can't come fast enough.

 

[Motown 454]

Don't want to take over you thread . Has any one seen attic ladders to fit between 24 on center trusses for a 12' ceiling? I can't seem to find one. I have a ladder but it needs 25.5" wide opening and the trusses would need to be modified. I talked to the truss company they want 500 to engineer it.

 

[JimVonBaden]

Don't want to take over you thread . Has any one seen attic ladders to fit between 24 on center trusses for a 12' ceiling? I can't seem to find one. I have a ladder but it needs 25.5" wide opening and the trusses would need to be modified. I talked to the truss company they want 500 to engineer it.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Werner-8...75-lb-Maximum-Load-Capacity-AH2210B/203009107

This is what I have!

 

[Motown 454]

What do you use to make up the extra 2 feet? My ceiling is 12'

 

[Ross/Kzoo]

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Werner-8...75-lb-Maximum-Load-Capacity-AH2210B/203009107

This is what I have!

I'm that's the one that I HAD also.

Better read this before you purchase:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=237627

I would stay away from Werner Chinese.