Product Spy

How to Choose the Best Attic Ladder

If your attic has a built-in ladder, then going up and climbing down the attic will be an easy and safe trip.

You don't fret anytime you need to make another trip to the attic, which makes it a good storage space and opens up more real estate in your home.

If you don't already have a built in ladder in your attic, installing a fold down step or ladder is not difficult.

It will only take a few hours especially if you have done something similar in the past. 

To even make it easier for your experiment, you can order a pre-assembled kit online, have it shipped to your location, and cut down on the total installation time.

While it’s easier said than done, installing a ladder in your attic can become burdensome if you don't have any idea. To prevent this from happening, you need to pay attention to the following:

Quick Navigation
Location of installation
​Framing Type
Basic Space Requirement
Recommended Reading

Location of installation

1. Use the proper oil

If you order a kit, you will see that they are designed to go with your attic floor and may require that you do a little enlargement to the hole that leads to your attic.

If you have this convenience, then you can cut down the time needed to open a new access that links to the attic. Both have their advantages though.

If you are coming up with a new hole, you can choose the location and make sure that there is enough room where the bottom of the ladder sits.

Choosing the right oil for your deep fryer is half battle won. Once you know the type of oil you want to use, you will need to fill up the fryer with it, taking care not to over-fill or under-fill it.

If you have a model that have a minimum or maximum fill line, it becomes even easier as you have a ready gauge to guide your measurement.

​Framing Type

2. Turn it on and start operating

You need to consider your attic flooring and roof before choosing a ladder. If the roof is made with trusses, then you shouldn't cut or dismantle any of the components as they are situated as an interlocking system.

If the framing is a standard construction, then restructuring can be done to suit your new attic ladder. You can also have rafters and floor joists depending on the design of the whole location.

To start using your device, you need to turn it on by plugging it in and using the switch button to power it up.

After that, set the temperature and time and ensure that you obtain the right level of temperature for the oil without going over that.

You also need to maintain a temperature between 350 degrees F and 375 degrees F which is the suitable range for most of the cooking you will be doing.

If your device comes with a thermostat, you don't have to bother too much about the temperature as it will automatically determine the correct temperature.

However, if it doesn't come with one, you may have to get yourself a thermometer to select the right temperature for the oil.

Basic Space Requirement

3. Pat your food dry

If you are going for a full-sized attic ladder, you need to check the available space in your ceiling.

With this type, you need at least 22 1/2 x 54" before you can install one in your ceiling.

The ladder also requires some landing space where you can mount and dismantle the ladder.

This should be checked even though it is most likely to be available too.

Be sure to check there is headroom in the attic as it is unsightly to bang your head against the roof every time you access the attic.

Finally, make sure the rooms you are using have enough space to contain the ladder when it is fully extended. However, if you have tight space, you can search for telescopic ladders instead. We have reviewed all the latest and best models on the market which can be found here.

Because these measurements can very between brands, it is absolutely necessary to check manufacturer's specification and gauge it against what you have.

You have to carry out this check before you start any work or change anything either in the room or in your attic.

Before drying any kind of food, make sure it is dried and doesn't have any traces of water. You can make use of a kitchen paper towel or cover the food in some dusting to remove any traces of water.

For example, freshly cut potatoes can be wiped with paper towel so that there is no water on it before throwing them into the fryer. Not doing this may cause some dangerous spilling of oil that may be injurious to you or children around.

About the Author Harry Thompson

Hi, I'm the founding guy of Product Spy. Highly experienced in home and garden appliances through years of online research. I want to help everyone in the UK by streamlining their research when buying a new product. I will be putting the hours in researching to find the best products so you don't have to.