Loft Ladders - Capitalizing on Space with A Wooden Loft Ladder

Square footage is a precious commodity. When it comes to homes and work spaces, people often utilize every last corner of space available. Whether it is a two-story suburban home or a city-bound condo or even a cramped urban office space, it is usually essential to make the most of every square inch, maximizing the effectiveness of every room, closet, and storage area. However, one space that is particularly difficult to capitalize on fully is a loft. After all, sometimes lofts are not readily accessible and can be awkward to reach, making them hard to turn into functional living areas or storage spaces.

The most effective way to fix this problem is to use a loft ladder. The concept behind loft ladders is fairly straightforward. These are ladders specially designed to access lofts, taking into consideration the nature and position of most lofts. To this end, they are crafted to be both sturdy and discreet, so they can stand up to daily use without taking up too much space. While loft ladders come in various styles and materials, utilizing wooden ladders for lofts is often the most practical choice for the do-it-yourself approach since they lend themselves to easy construction and set up.

When picking the right ladder for a loft, it is important to consider the nature of the loft, since these ladders come in different styles. Some loft ladders are designed to fold up out of the way, which is especially common with attic ladders. While this style of ladder saves space, it is not especially practical for a loft that is partially open to other rooms. However, if the ladder is to reach an attic loft or perhaps even a rooftop deck, this style of wooden ladder can be a smart, space-saving option.

For more open lofts that receive consistent use, stationary wooden loft ladders may be the wisest options. These ladders would be designed with a bit more attention to aesthetics, since this style of ladder would be a visible fixture at all times. While these ladders may take up more space, they are also much more convenient to use, since they do not require being let down or put away.

To get started on putting together a loft ladder, it is important to first procure the essential parts. For those who are ambitious, it is possible to buy the lumber, woodscrews, and lag bolts at any hardware store and construct a ladder from scratch. This approach does allow for easier customization and it is likely to be more cost effective, but it does require more planning and some basic knowledge of woodworking and building. Before buying parts, it is essential to first measure the height of the loft and plan on creating a ladder about a foot longer than that measurement, in order to give the ladder an angle. It is then necessary to calculate the number of rungs, spacing each one so they are about a foot apart. From there, it will be necessary to buy the appropriate amount of lumber and cut properly sized pieces. Depending on the use of the ladder, it may be preferable to spend time sanding and staining the wood as well, to give it a smooth and attractive appearance. After prepping the wood, the pieces must all be assembled before the top part of the ladder is anchored to the floor of the loft with the lag bolts. More detailed information and plans can be found at http://www.ehow.com/how_4781178_build-wooden-loft-ladder.html

For some people, starting from scratch is a bit too much of a project, which is why there are a number of loft ladder kits available for easier installation. Buying a kit is also a wise option for anyone who wants a retractable style ladder, since those often have more complicated mechanisms that are difficult for the average person to complete. Because of this, numerous online sites offer loft ladders to fit any need, coming in both wood and metal. Homeowners must simply peruse the options, pick the ladder that looks most likely to fit their need, and order. Many of these ladders, since they are retractable, are adequate for a variety of heights and will come either partially assembled or with detailed instructions. Some of the websites with the most variety of options include http://www.jupiterblue.co.uk/ and http://www.loftshop.co.uk/index.asp.

Ultimately, wooden loft ladders are smart solutions to help make those hard to reach areas viable spaces. Thankfully, it is not difficult to find or create the perfect loft ladder to use in any space. Whether it is a stationary ladder, which can easily be constructed from scratch, or a drop-down retractable ladder which can be purchased in an easy-to-assemble kit, there are ladders to match any height or incline.

For more information, check out some of the following websites:

http://www.loftsandladders.com/
http://www.fakrousa.com/
http://www.laddersalesdirect.co.uk/