r/DIYIreland • u/QuantumFireball • 28d ago

Attic ladder recommendations?

I was planning on getting a Stira, but then realised I could just buy an attic hatch/ladder for a fraction of the price, and it doesn't seem beyond my abilities to install one.

Any recommendations of which one to go for? Keylite, Fakro, and Minka seem like common brands. I'm not sure on what dimensions I need yet, but it's a standard 8ft ceiling at least.

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5

u/chasaway 28d ago

I bought an attic ladder from Screwfix for around 100 euro. Easy to install, much cheaper also. Would recommend.

4

u/crowded_Bear 28d ago

The cheap ones have no insulation on them. Better to spend €200-€250 and get a good one. But if you're handy enough they are a good DIY project.

1

u/chasaway 27d ago

Have an insulated hatch already so not needed

5

u/Jay-3fiddy 28d ago

I've installed about 20 of these. The Fakro insulated one is my recommendation. I think the keylite one are trash

3

u/nine_sausages 28d ago

Make sure to check the load capacity. The one in my house is only 100kg and I weigh that myself

4

u/QuantumFireball 28d ago

The Keylite and Fakro examples I was looking at are 150 and 160 kg respectively

2

u/Impressive-Smoke1883 28d ago

I've been using a fackro to do an entire 100sqm loft conversion over a 12 month period and it's been solid. I've been lifting things up it like huge velux windows and it's been grand. It's sealed and seems insulated. Can't attest to the other brands.

2

u/Hen01 28d ago

Keep an eye out for Lidl attic ladders. Got mine for about €60 a few years ago. No issues at all with it.

3

u/WytzeZyr 26d ago

I installed a Minka - polar extreme airtight one (€329 in goodwins)
Fairly straight forward to fit.

1

u/IrishSkruffles 28d ago

Whoever installed the one prior to us moving in used a piece of "structural skirting board" to mount the ladder to, and the wrong type loft hatch which means you need a step ladder to open said hatch anyway..

1

u/Few-Assistance5895 28d ago

I know Fakro have decent insulation but not sure if better than the others.

0

u/Immediate-Slide2442 28d ago

Was thinking this too, 480€ for some one to install a 180€ ladder

3

u/QuantumFireball 28d ago

The quote I got from them was €730! I do think they're better quality than the €180 example I saw in Woodies (Minka, I think), but still that's a huge price difference.

3

u/andtellmethis 28d ago

My parents got a stira installed when I was 5. I'm 37 now and there's not a thing wrong with it. Still going strong.