If you are thinking of using the attic as storage area, installing a proper ladder will make life much easier accessing the loft.

The most common ladder to access the attic is a timber folding ladder, as it is safe and strong, and well insulated. They came in two different sizes, 1200 mm x 600 mm ,  and 1150mm x 550 mm. Both version of this type are manufactured by different companies, and as a consequence, each will have their own U- value. The one we recommend and very often use is the Polar Extreme loft ladder, that has a U-value of 0.4 W/m2K. Lower the U-value for a product, the leas amount of heat will let escape. As we are constantly trying to use the most up to date products, this ladder has the best U-value on the Irish market. 

As sometimes it is not possible to fit the timber folding ladder, most of the times due to the low roof pitch, the alternative is to use an aluminium ladder, that can slide in the attic, and it will be independent of the access door. By using this type of ladder, the access door needs to be properly insulated.

If you are looking to go ahead with one of this ladders, we will have a carpenter working on this project, as sometimes the existing access ope needs to be adjusted in order to fit the ladder.