Metal vs Wooden Attic Ladders | What's the difference? 

Hi Belinda, I've fitted over 20 of the timber Fakro loft hatches in the UK. I usually fit these on my own and the easiest way to fit them is to remove the ladder , lift the frame into the loft and rest it down onto battens fitted under the opening. Square the frame and fix into position then remove the battens, fit the ladder. Remember to adjust the ladder away from the door & then cut to length. Finally install new architrave. Hope that helps someone. Regards Tim

Love the videos, but based on your summary I would have chosen the wooden one. - fire safety (especially important if installing in a garage) - R value (especially important when installing in the house) - folding steps (accessible to little people) The detractions you mentioned are easily managed: - replace the string with a hook point - add threaded rod on each corner for easy adjustment (nope, I’m too lazy to do this as well and would probably use your non-recommended method, LOL) I’m also very disappointed about the MDF. MDF is not a dynamically stable material: it flexes, cracks, and has no fatigue strength. The correct part would have been plywood. If I ever do buy one of these, I’ll have to replace the MDF with plywood preemptively. Thanks again and keep up the great work! I’ve learned a lot from your videos and it’s helped me make the right choices for my own home remodel.

You know it's a good, fair review when you'd choose the one she didn't pick as the winner because of the facts she provided and your own personal preferences / situation

I didn’t even know metal ladders were an option, never having had to replace one. Neat!

Shouting the orders at the boyfriend like a boss was so funny

I installed the metal version of this attic ladder and couldn't have been happier. In our case the prefinished hatch was unblemished. The 30" version provided a comfortable opening to access the attic. And when climbing the ladder there is plenty to hold on to. To get bulky or heavy items into the attic, I installed an "I bolt" to a rafter above the open and hooked up a snatch block to easily maneuver stuff into storage.

I installed an aluminum ladder to reach my garage attic. I think I would have been happier with wood for two reasons. 1) wood is quieter. 2) wood is warmer to the touch.

I replaced a broken wooden ladder with a metal one back in 2009. My ladder looks exactly like the wooden style one you installed, only the ladder is aluminum. It feels extremely strong. The ladder was too long, so it required cutting with a hacksaw to adjust the height. I am very happy with the ladder. I ordered it from one of the big box hardware stores.

Excellent installation demonstration and your analysis comparing them was very helpful.

I love your videos. You are easily the most informed person about these industries than anyone presenting today. You mentioned the price ($$$!) of this unit and valued it based on durability and replacability. However, you initially confirmed this is one of the least used items in any home, and it is bar-none the first time I saw one replaced. Given those facts, I would rather put $1100 in another area of the house, rather than something I will use 3 times in my life.

Thank you. This has cemented my decision - I'm paying someone to install mine! lol

I wish you had this video when I installed my new attic ladder last year. I replaced my old ladder with an aluminum one with shocks instead of springs. You are awesome. please keep up the great work.

The scissors version is appealing to me because we have very limited space in the room where our wooden version can barely unfold.

The more I see of your channel, the more I enjoy it. You have so many great topics!

These were shockingly expensive to me. I’d never had to replace one. Interesting puzzle on how to install them, I think they are usually just installed at build time. My present house doesn’t have an attic, but I could use something in my garage-style shed.

Your carpentry skills uninstalling those two attic ladder quite impressive I put one up myself and it was quite difficult great video

Your warcry is formidable.

Nicely done! Thank you, Belinda!

Seemed like a regular, wonderful, video as we have grown accustomed to. You do good work. When you got to the prices, I really felt my age. Last time I looked at attic ladders, they were less than $100, about $75 for the one I wanted. Wow.

You did a great great job the first time I’ve ever seen to do it yourself or that wasn’t a craftsman that compared to and installed to. You did an excellent job in compare and contrast the two different products. Thank you.

Thank You Belinda good review. If I did it with my wife there would be lots of Bleeping. Good teamwork.😃

I was unhappy with American styles and got one from the UK. It’s very sturdy aluminum telescoping ladder. You have to add your own door, and it’s easily insulated.

Thank you so much! We are putting one in and this was very helpful.

Great video, with useful info. Thanks for making this!!

One thing I've never even remotely thought about was my attic ladder... But now I'm intrigued

I went with a telescoping aluminum ladder. It's secured up in the attic, and then it's pulled down with a hook. It came with hinges and a latch for a door that you create yourself out of plywood you supply. It has as much (or as little) insulation as you choose to add to the door. The install was pretty straightforward. Since the door is separate, there's no massive assembly to hold into place. The cost was also much better; I paid less than $200 (pre-pandemic inflation.)

That was great. I'll have to look into the metal ladder. I need a new one, but I have a raised ceiling and am afraid I would not be able to fold the ladder up. But the hook would be perfect.

Always look forward to your vids, thanks.

Excellent video as always. Thank you

Getting hands dirty on this one! Respect. Attics aren’t as usual in my area so I doubt I will ever need this knowledge, but it was entertaining.

This project will really test a marriage 🙂 Thanks for your hard work making this video. It's relevant to me because I am considering adding a ladder in my garage to access overhead storage.

The attic ladder I installed allowed you to remove the ladder from the frame. This way you can easily install the frame without the heavy ladder and work from below. Then, after the frame was installed you snapped the ladder in place. Easy Peezy.

A terrific video. Thank you.

I’ll stick with my old wooden ladder. It has metal bracing under each wooden rung that I can tighten if the wood shrinks. I feel safer if one should ever break. The metal ladder looks like it doesn’t have any lateral stability.

I have installed many attic stairways and did then exactly as you did the wooden one in your garage. There is always 2 of us and we have never had a second ladder way to get into the attic, so one of us is always in the attic to receive it and screw it into place. We allllllways mount them flush with the ceiling and add trim after it's installed and then foam spray insulation to fill the voids.. Also, long before they made a handle and eyelet and only sold them with a thin rope, we installed chrome eyelets and used simple wooden broom handles with a Jacobs hook screwed into the end. I guess we should have patented that!! Hahahahaha...

Great video! Thank you!

Great video. Thanks!

Hi Belinda! This information is really useful and even more for me as I'm planning to build an A-frame house with a loft that will use a ladder, but unfortunately i couldn't find videos on RU-vid about the advantages and throwbacks of this kind of houses. Could you please cover this topic???

you're a ladder day saint.

Construction Mommy making life easier again....😩

Ah so we are not the only ones yelling during a DIY project ;-) LOL

I like your video very much. As a factory of attic ladder, I think both metal ladder and wooden ladder have their own advantages. The metal ladder can be opened and closed with assistance. It is relatively easy to operate and more durable. The requirements for the hole are not so strict. The minimum size of the hole can be 600 * 800mm. The stability of the wooden ladder is high, and the wooden products look more comfortable, However, the wood products have the potential of fracture for a long time. I think metal is better in terms of safety

Yes, more Belinda tries out DIY items 😁

You have a better quality of loft ladders over there in USA than we have in UK, but a $1000 for a loft ladder, Wow!!! Nothing wrong with your method of supporting the wooden ladder using timber straps, its called initiative. I always pilot holes in wood before I drive a screw in, call it OCD I don't know, just something I always have done. Cracking pair of pins btw 👍

But what's the advantage of a separate, losable tool to open your attic? Does it contain an opener tool holder you can snap the tool into when not in use? Seems like you will have to now keep track of a probably seldom-used and easily misplaced purpose-specific tool.

I’m looking forward to the inevitable video on encapsulating your attic.

I agree metal ladder seems the way to go. $1000 for what it is seems over priced though. I feel i can def rig up something cheaper that's equivalent or better.

FAKRO looking good to me 😅

Your garage looks like my primary bedroom until last week. You don't realize how heavy rockwool is until you're on the 10th bag going up stairs...

New sub! Great content. ❤️

I LOVE YOUR MIND AND UNDERSTANDING OF BUILDING SCIENCES! A WOMAN I COULD TALK TO ALL DAY...

Hi Belinda I really like this video and I like both ladders because I need one for my garage and my attic in the house but sense now you have had these ladders for a while what is your overall take, do you still prefer the metal. By the way, I really enjoy watching all your videos. You give a lot of great information and I really learn a lot from the renovations.

Hi! saw a video of yours about insulation and had solar paint included. Which is that video? Cant seen to find it.

You are brave to attempt this DIY upgrade. I did the same, but I used a chain hoist to lift the ladder into the attic. Any time you have an opening the size of an attic ladderway, it is a big time fall hazard. That being said, I had a friend fall due to an older wooden ladder failure, and it really messed him up. The ladders shown are very expensive. But the metal trim is a feature I really liked.

Hi Belinda, which one is your favorite now that you have lived with both for a while? Does the metal stairs wobble from side to side? Does the width of the steps become an issue when lifting heavy objects?

There was this one time I had to punch an attic ladder in the face for payment overdue. Lived in Texas at the time and just did what everybody else was doing. I didn't know any better and now feel sorry for attic ladders black eye I gave said attic ladder. Attic is a weird word

Great!!!!

I like the metal ladder, hopefully I can buy enough extra steps for my 12 foot ceiling.

Perfect timing! We are shopping for one now. Your video answered many questions we had. Thank you! Does the kit include the extra rungs on the metal ladder or is that a separate purchase?

My mom wanted to know what's the brand of your floors?. She loves that look

Hard to believe they couldn't keep them as wide as the older models and oh, MDF.

And here I am looking at a $260 Louisville aluminum attic ladder.

Because my ceilings are all “cathedral” I don’t need ladders, just help with my heating and air conditioning bills!

Lol. Pretty fierce when you're working.

Excellent review. I did not know metal was an option !

With prices like those, I might just have a 'decorative' wooden ladder hanging around to use.

Althou Fakro is a quality company, nether of those product do not contribute to sealing insulation as there's none within the hatch. It doesnt matter if you in a mild climate zone but for others its a no win.

There are much more reasonably priced options out there. Thanks for the vid though.

Hi Belinda. Aluminium loft ladders are a lot lot easier to install and much easier to operate.

Belinda, another great video. At over $1000 each, I'll just use a folding ladder for my garage.

Your "BOSSY". Hahaha so is my wife though.

I am glad a professional uses Ryobi. I No longer feel so much like an idiot amateur. If she does it, then it must be good.

If only I had seen this 3 years ago. Back then, I replaced my entire scuttle door. And there’s no ladder included. I could’ve done this whole thing then. Now… I’m never going to fit it in.

wow, the fancy metal one cost twice as much as here... was it made in the Netherlands or Poland?

Are you planning to convert your loft?

The ladders you received (Free of charge) may have been ladders the could not sell because they were damaged.

If anyone was wondering, the difference is one is metal and the other is wood.

So it's essentially a 3 man installation job? Two to lift it into place and then another in the attic to secure it? (I presume most homes have only one attic access, not two). Yikes. And over $1k for each. That's a lot more than I expected. Guess I haven't priced them for a long time.

you're awesome

Why do you fold the stairs all up on one end? Just move the hook things down a bit.

I wish to buy one for my home in kerala. How can i avail it. The attic size is 59.5 × 29.5 inches.

These prices are insane, 25 years ago I bought an attic ladder for something like $29 or $39 dollars.....And sure these are a little better but they ain't that much better.

Whats that messy white stuff in the attic?

We replaced our failing wood fold down attic ladder with the same thing in aluminum

"now I didn't have a rope, so I used another method that I will not show" LOL and btw... omg.. I paid about $250 for my wood ladder myself *(with a rope). I couldn't imagine having to pay so much for my next one.

Belinda, please review SeedEco Home designed by Opensource Ecology team. They seem to have thought about the things you usually criticize on this channel about eco homes: materials that have to be transported fro far away like with shipping containers if built inland, labor, cost or skill intensivess of a build, unscalability of a design for example because of use of non-uniform parts from a dumpster. I thing Seed Eco Home has these problems solved but am curious to hear what would you say.

Yes I think I like the metal ladders as well. I'm still curious do you feel any kind of sagging as your climbing them? This is your design looks interesting however I'm curious if they Loose It Up After Time

I tried to install a wooden attic ladder. 2 of the *&_)(_)^&^% things broke after they were installed, dropping half way to the attic, almost hurting me! I gave up, put a MDF sheet over hole as a door and glued foam insulation on the attic side. I use a regular ladder to get in. I installed an eye bolt in the baseboard and tie a rope to the ladder to keep it from slipping. I didn't see a metal option at the time.

Holy fish, a grand for a ladder?

Dang ... this channel just gets better and better. A beautiful woman, college educated, excellent communicator, AND can do construction work! What a dream! As for the ladders, I never even knew metal ladders existed! In previous residences my small attics were accessed by the traditional pull down wood ladders (with the classic hanging string) and no insulation. Fortunately my current home doesn't have an attic so this is no longer an issue. I'm all about ease of construction so the steel one looks like a pretty nifty option. In either case, though, this is definitely a two-person project. On the down side, if there is no second access to the attic, a third person will be needed to be stationed in the attic before raising the new steel one up, as there will be no way to get in and secure it afterwards. It seems heavier than it needs to be - why in the world didn't they fashion it out of aluminium instead? Also, this is definitely a spring or fall project in Texas, maybe even a winter one!

I'm lazy. I would have put the ladder fully in the attic, used a second ladder to go into the same hole, then lower it down and attach it, with someone below me to verify it doesn't look weird.

Woah, that metal ladder cost a pretty penny.

a thousand bucks for that hinky little chinesy wobbly scissor sheet metal piece? i my dad like a full folding aluminum unit but, i'd have to ask how much he paid when he got it a local big box store all those years back.

I looked at adding an attic ladder to my attic access hatch. I learned that the new code changes what code requirements there are in an attic if a permanent ladder allows access. Especially with electrical and spray foam. Spray foam has to be covered in an area with a permanent ladder. So I scrapped that idea. But before I did the metal ladder you used was definitely one of my favorites. Especially because there were versions that could fit into a very small access hatch.

These cost over 3x as much as the standard ones. Even including the lighter aluminum ones at home depot. Do you think they're worth over 3x the price?

Fortunately there are ladders like that for 1/4th the price

Those prices are vulgar!

Less weight if you would install the frame without the steps :P

Are there no ladders available to fit your existing ceiling openings? How do you think you would have accomplished this if you didnt have a second attic access? It seems very frustrating that the MDF doors of _both_ attic stairs are broken upon installation. 🙁 Maybe the manufacturer should consider using a better quality product? (its not too much area, given the price)

I would never ever buy one of these just based on cost alone....