I was thinking of attempting this myself, but now I'm thinking I might recruit the help of a "handyman", or at least someone who has done it before. Whichever I decide, I could use some recommendations as to whether to go with aluminum or stick with wood. It's a standard opening and floor to ceiling height is 7'7". Looking at the Lowes website, prices range from less than $100 to over $1000 and everything in between, from names like Fakro, Century, Werner.

Any personal recommendations? Is it a matter of "you get what you pay for"? I'm disinclined to go necessarily with the cheapest, but I'm also not about to spend $500 for a freakin' attic ladder. Thoughts? Thanks.

How often do you use it. Once a year to store holiday decorations or more often.

I prefer the ones with one hand rail on it.

This house has, I'm sure, a cheap one that lasted 38 years until a spring broke. I wouldn't get the very cheapest, but I wouldn't spend a lot.

Keep it shut and use a ladder when needed. : )

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We probably go up there a few times a month. Reviews I've been reading are really leaning toward aluminum rather than wood, and recommend going for the 300# rated, rather than the 250#. As with a lot of these things, you'll read a half dozen positive reviews, then a really negative one. Very frustrating.

I got this one from Home Depot:

[www.homedepot.com]

Well made, has an insulated door and it locks in the closed position using a long metal rod. No string hanging from it.

Quote
wurm
We probably go up there a few times a month. Reviews I've been reading are really leaning toward aluminum rather than wood, and recommend going for the 300# rated, rather than the 250#. As with a lot of these things, you'll read a half dozen positive reviews, then a really negative one. Very frustrating.

We replaced our wooden one with a Werner Aluminum. We got the wider model and couldn't be happier with it. Very steady and secure.

The guys who replaced our heater a few years ago really appreciated the aluminum ladder I had installed.

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....look like you are ON TOP.....of things.....

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I reject your reality and substitute my own!

If you make your attic a viable storage space, you would be more likely to pop up there more often if it was a good ladder. I had a friend who had a great storage system in his attic and he was up and down all the time. His father-in-law was the contractor and put in the best ladder he could find.