Drop Down vs Folding Attic Ladder: Pros and Cons

An attic ladder will greatly facilitate access to your attic. Without a ladder, you will be compelled to drag up one whenever you need to access that upper storage space. This can be time consuming as well as cumbersome. Install a ladder as a permanent fixture of your home and spare yourself the hassle of having to drag a ladder up. The two commonly installed ladders for attic access are the drop down and folding ladder. The drop down variety or disappearing stairway is attached to the rectangular ceiling hatch. It is let down in one piece from the ceiling. The folding ladder folds into itself when not in use and is conveniently put away.

Pros of Drop Down Attic Ladders

Drop down ladders generally have an inclination of about 40 degrees. This makes it more comfortable to navigate than the folding type. Drop down ladders are quite similar to the regular stairs you may have elsewhere in your house. These attic ladders are neat to have in the house. With just one pull of a chord, the entire ladder will glide into place. They hardly require any effort to put in place. Drop down ladders are also more durable and stable than the folding type. They are manufactured to carry greater weight than folding ladders. Some can support as much as 800 pounds.

Cons

Drop down ladders cost considerably more than the folding type. Besides, to install a drop down ladder involves a good amount of expertise. You will probably have to call in a technician to do installation and accumulate increased costs. However, since this attic ladder is sturdy and resilient, it assures you of increased safety. The cost may therefore very well be worth the assured safety.

Pros of Folding Attic Ladders

These are generally ideal for smaller attics. They are cheaper and easier to install than the drop down stairway. Some basic equipment is all that is required to install. Folding ladders are available in aluminium, steel, fiber glass and wood. The beauty of having one in aluminium is that it will not rust or rot. This eliminates repairs and keeps maintenance to a bare minimum. They are a great space-saving feature for your house. Simply pull it down when desired and fold back in place when done.

Cons

The folding ladder presents much more of a challenge when you have to climb it. The angle of inclination for folding attic ladders is fairly steep. At about 65 degrees, this is much steeper than your regular stairway. Folding attic ladders also tend to be weaker and not as secure as the drop down variety. Many of them have the ladder stringers and treads made not thick enough. This reduces the stability of the ladder, especially when a heavier person has to use it. Most of them only support weights ranging between 250 and 300 pounds. Many of these ladders are also not manufactured with a ladder rod under each tread. This reduces the overall strength factor.