On Sun, 22 Jan 2006 20:57:28 +0000 (UTC), cs
wrote:

|A couple of small questions regarding loft ladders. I need to install
|one as the only access I have today to my loft is via a small hatch and
|ladders put on top of our granite kitchen worktop, hardly safe nor
|something that pleases the wife...
|
|The choice seems to be very much folding wood vs. sliding aluminium
|ladders. The folding ones (like most wood ladders) don't need any
|vertical or horizontal clearance which is great from a loft storage etc.
|point of view, while the sliding type (like most aluminium ladders) need
|70-100cm vertical and ~150cm horizontal clearance in the loft. That
|space is not an issue for me, so I am free choose whatever suits my
|personal likings best.
|
|What bothers me about the wooden ones is the weight: we appear to be
|talking 30kg for a wooden ladder vs. 15kg for a comparable aluminium
|one. I presume this also translate into an equivalent ease (or not) when
|it comes to raise/lower the ladder as well, although all are spring
|counterbalanced that only would help to close the hatch, not to actually
|lift the first half or two thirds off the ground and slide it up or fold
|it together. So from the ability of the average person to lower/raise
|the ladders, how much of an issue is this?
|
|When it comes to sturdiness ("wobble")I suspect wood will have the edge,
|is that correct?
|
|And what are folks' opinion about the steel or aluminium concertina
|ladders, particularly regarding sturdiness and ease or use?

I installed Aluminium, and it is quite heavy enough thank you, the women in
the family find it heavier than me. They would have difficulty with
wood. It does not wobble significantly.

Installing it needed careful planning, I have only an inch or two spare all
the way round.
--
Dave Fawthrop dave hyphenologist co uk
17,000 free e-books at Project Gutenberg! http://www.gutenberg.net
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