Hello All,
I desperately need to gain bigger-better acces to my attic. We have such a gi-normous amount of holiday decorations
http://www.madmadscientist.com/galleries/hw2k4/index.htm
that we are running out of space. I have looked thru the archives and looked at some of the ladders folks have suggested in the past but there has not been anything recently suggested, and some of the ladders were way outta my budget.
This Werner ladder looks pretty good, AL gas springs 300# load rating.
The reviews were pretty bad but apparently that was for an earlier model. Has anyone installed one of these recently and are they any good?
Thanks,
Daniel Neuman
Oakland CA
Crazy Home Owner
Replies
We had one in the garage that went up to the loft and just recently ripped it out. The steps are ok, but still dangerous, especially where the ceiling lid is attached to the back of the stairs. I also tripped on a rug and almost fell throught he opening. and had nothing to grab onto...
Alot of our Christmas stuff didn't fit too well up the pulldown stairs. You have only around 20" in finished width
We wound up putting in a staircase.
Edited 5/24/2005 10:00 pm ET by migraine
Alot of our Christmas stuff didn't fit too well up the pulldown stairs. You have only around 20" in finished width
We wound up putting in a staircase.
Yes I agree not giant amounts of clear space above the ladder. The werner model is something like 22" by 5' much much bigger than the 22"by16" hatch I have now. All of our stuff is panelized or stuff into rubbermaid containers (lots of them) that would fit thru this opening fine.
Daniel Neuman
Oakland CA
Crazy Home Owner
We've put in two of the Werner attic stairs. I think last one was the newer design. They're nice units but I was not happy with final fit. We had alot of problems getting the unit to fit flush to the ceiling.
We must not have been the only ones, when I called Werner they mentioned PAYING my lost labor for installing another unit.
I hope they have fixed this problem because I think I just sold another one.
It seems you have two separate problems that might better be dealt with as two separate problems:
1. Getting yourself in and out of the attic
2. Getting your stuff in and out of the attic
How about a regular attic ladder for yourself, plus a large hatch with a rope and pulley rig for moving bulky decorations up and down? You'd need two people for the job, one in the attic, one on the top floor.
-- J.S.
It seems you have two separate problems that might better be dealt with as two separate problems:
1. Getting yourself in and out of the attic
2. Getting your stuff in and out of the attic
How about a regular attic ladder for yourself, plus a large hatch with a rope and pulley rig for moving bulky decorations up and down? You'd need two people for the job, one in the attic, one on the top floor.
Right now we have just a 16by22" hatch in our kitchen over the dining table. I can still get most of the stuff up there but would like a larger space to push stuff thru. The Werner ladder clear area looks like its 22" by 5'. That should be big enough to get all of our stuff up into the attic. I realize its not as safe as stairs but in our little house it seems to be the only option.
Daniel Neuman
Oakland CA
Crazy Home Owner
Mad-
I installed a 30-inch wide wood attic ladder in a new garage I built last year. It's not a Werner - I just called up my local lumber yard/building center and asked if they carried attic stairs. I can't remember the brand, but you may be able to do the same. It's got the 300# rating. I use mine almost daily and have even been able to carry patio furniture up and down for storage over the winter. You do lose a little width over a staircase because of the springs, but the space savings is great. It was super easy to install and it sits nice and flush.
Let me know if you need more info on the brand and I can look back through receipts or look on the ladder itself.
Cheers,
Jason
Let me know if you need more info on the brand and I can look back through receipts or look on the ladder itself.
Thanks Jason, if its not too much trouble I would like that info.
Daniel Neuman
Oakland CA
Crazy Home Owner
I installed two of the steel Werner ladders within the past six months. One is in my garage, the other leads up to my main attic.
Did both installs myself, no helper. However there comes a point during the install, when your hooking the stair assembly to the frame, that a second pair of hands might be handy. Other than that its pretty easy.
The thing that I like about this model is that they use gas pistons instead of noisy springs. My old wooden stairs made such a racket when opened and closed. Also I think the steel frame and plastic/rubber steps feel a bit more stable than cheap pine treads. Overall very happy with the choice I made.
The thing that I like about this model is that they use gas pistons instead of noisy springs. My old wooden stairs made such a racket when opened and closed. Also I think the steel frame and plastic/rubber steps feel a bit more stable than cheap pine treads. Overall very happy with the choice I made.
This is good to hear it appears that you installed the newest model and it didn't have any of the issues cited by the Amazon users. How's it feel going up and down it while carrying a box? Unless I hear something else really negative I think that I am going to order one from amazon. Its on sale with free shipping and no sales tax.
Daniel Neuman
Oakland CA
Crazy Home Owner
I'm not sure I'm going to make things crystal clear for you, but overall I'm pretty happy with the ladder. Of course, I started off with a tiny square in the ceiling (10' from floor to ceiling in my garage), and a rickety homemade ladder attached to the wall (barely) with rungs spaced about 1.5' apart. So I couldn't have done much worse.Mine is in my garage, so I wasn't terribly concerned with making sure it was perfectly flush with the ceiling, no help there. The only complaint I've got is that it's definitely got a little side to side movement on the ladder, but if you don't have to go as high it might not be as noticeable.The installation is kind of because if this is the same model I have, you install the frame (when allows for some adjustments) by itself, then attach the stair/cover piece. That part really needs a helper, at least with the height I was dealing with.Two helpful hints for install, make sure the arms are pointing the right direction BEFORE you begin compressing the gas shocks, and for God's sake be careful compressing those shocks. Like someone in the Amazon reviews said, they can seriously injure you while you are compressing them.
I weigh 185lbs. so keep that in mind. I've been up and down both ladders with boxes, tools, toys, sleds...even my wife likes them.
Also i forgot to mention that the bottom section has individually adjustable feet so its easy and forgiving if the floor is not exactly level.
Mr. Magoo,
Did you have any problems with the units fitting flush to the ceiling?
I put one in a while back and will never do it again. It took three to find one that fit properly and closed correctly. Supposedly they will be reimbursing me for the additional work but just not worth the grief.
PaulB
For awhile there I just thought it was me. I had the same problem, just wouldnt pull itselef up against the ceiling.
I like the ladder I just wish they'd get it right.
I've put a lot of Memphis Folding Stairs in...no gas struts, but no problems either. The Ultimate has 2x4 rails and handles a load!
Don't worry, we can fix that later!
The ladder installed in the garage ceiling looks great...because there is no sheetrock ceiling.
However, the ladder inside the house is installed with a recently renovated (new drywall) ceiling, and ther are presently gaps along the door length. At this time it doesn't seem to bother me as I hope to put up some wood trim along the length and width and I assume this will cover any unsightly gaps.
I also plan to build an insulated attic hatch cover which will keep the conditioned air inside the house and not leak into the attic.
Are you concerned about the look of the gap or the possible energy loss of the gap?
Are you concerned about the look of the gap or the possible energy loss of the gap?
I'm concerned about both, but from a customers stand point i'd say looks first. it looks like a hack job if the door doesnt close flush (assuming a relatively flat ceiling).
Like I said, I like the design of the ladder, but it still has some bugs in it.
On the last one we put in one of my guys spent almost two hours trying to figure out the problem(okay not the fastest guy i've ever worked with, but still).
he finally figured out that the hinge mount needs some shims behind it to flex it up just enough.
FWIW, I would never purchase another Werner attic ladder. I bought the 8' steel 300 lb ladder that uses gas struts instead of springs. It went up very easily but it would not close flush to the ceiling. We tried numerous things, including calling Werner customer service, but to no avail.
So, while on the phone with Werner and they offer to ship out a replacement at no charge. This sounded great to me, and I requested that they ship the standard wood model with the 300 lb rating since it uses traditional springs and arms to close.
3 to 5 days later my new wood ladder arrives at the house looking like it has been through he11 and back, so I pull it out of the box and realize that the entire frame is finger-jointed all over the place. Of course, there is a finger-joint right where one of the support arms mounts to the frame, and you guessed it, the finger-joint has failed at that point of attachment. Granted, it probably took a good lick or two during shipment, but how does Werner expect it to be handled during shipping?
So, I called the Werner rep back, let him know what happened, and he ships out another wood ladder. This one shows up with one of the short ends of the frame (the end opposite the hinge end) loose in the box and the plywood door at that same end has a broken corner.
So as of right now, I have 3 broken attic ladders in the basement and a 4th one on the way. Maybe it will be in better shape, and maybe you'll have better luck with yours. Just my 2 cents.
But I will have to give their customer service credit, the guy that I have been working with has done everything that he can do. So I am pleased with that aspect of the deal.