Folding Attic Stairs

An attic is best described as the space under the roof at the top of the house. Initially an attic was meant to be used as a storage space, but today with the shortage of living space attics are now even being used as living rooms. Whatever you using it for, one thing is certain, it needs to be easily accessible and this is where the folding attic stairs becomes important.

With the numerous names for attics in vogue, it seems it applies to attic stairs as well. Today these ladders are known by many names, attic stairs, the disappearing stairway, telescoping ladders and folding ladders, folding attic stairs, attic stairs folding, and many more.

These ladders come in all shapes and sizes and are designed to suit all budgets and requirements. They run the whole deal; right from spring loaded aluminum ladders to remote controlled telescoping steel staircases.

Folding attic stairs come in four basic types

• True folding attic stairs which fold into thirds and fold onto the attic hatch
• Disappearing stairs which do not fold at all but slide into the attic on mounted rails
• Accordion staircases that unfold on hinges located on either side of each run
• Telescopic stairs that pull out one rung segment at a time

The above being the four basic types of folding attic stairs it would be pertinent to mention that these come in a variety of forms too! There are:

• Wooden Attic Stairs
• Aluminum Attic Stairs
• Steel Attic Stairs

Wooden Attic Stairs

They have a classic design amongst all the attic stair designs. These classic wooden attic stairs are easy to maintain and go well with any décor.

Aluminum Attic Stairs

They have the most recent and up to date designs. They do not occupy much space, are lightweight and are ideal for smaller homes with little space. Some designs come equipped with hand-rails and, or grab rails for personal safety.

Steel Attic Stairs

Of the three, these are considered the most durable. They are designed to take on heavy loads when compared to the wooden or aluminum attic ladders. Being contemporary in nature, they go well with most décor, require little or no maintenance and are long-lasting. One major additional advantage is that they do not get dirty quickly.

For many years, companies manufacturing attic access ladders had no regulations or guide lines to follow and as a result there was a large variation in the quality and safety standards of attic ladders.

One of the primary factors with regard to safety would be the amount of load the stairway can accommodate and one of the most important things to look at when getting an attic ladder is the minimum weight that one can use on the ladder with an absolute minimum being 300lbs, enough to carry the weight of a man.

Many folding attic stairs or for that matter any staircase has to be precision fitted. If one intends doing it on one's own, it would be wise to talk to the experts on the subject before messing up the décor of your house! Keep in mind your specific requirements before buying any attic stairs that are available in the market.