YOUNGMAN 313340 Easiway Aluminium 3-Section Loft Ladder

This item matched our needs perfectly. It is sturdy, easy to fit and operate and was very reasonably priced when purchased. I do not understand the issues that some have expressed with regard to the fitting instructions. I found them extremely clear and straightforward with excellent diagrams and supporting narrative. Maybe some earler criticisms have been heard and addressed as I experienced no installation difficulties or issues whatsoever. Only comment I would make is that the loft hatch securing latch provided is plastic which made me nervous of the potential for future breakage and injury caused by the hatch unexpectedly dropping. Probably low risk but, being a "belt and braces" man, I fitted a second metal "push and click" latch to be safe. Overall a quality product and value for money with everything required to do the job - including hinges for changing hatch to "drop-down" and plastic latch mechanism as previosuly mentioned.

Fairly easy to install, just follow the instructions on the back of the packaging. I installed this by myself, and it took about an hour to do. Read the instructions. Do the install bit by bit and it will go up just fine. Need to check a few things before you start. The height this ladder fits is floor to loft floor, not ceiling, so it will fit the maximum height in the description, just measure accurately. All the bits are there to fix the ladder, plus a kit to convert an existing push up loft hatch. I had already fitted a drop down hatch so these were not necessary. You will need this ladder and another one to install the ladder, as it will not be fixed until you get into the loft to attach it securely. So one last time I carted the old ladder up stairs to install the new permanent one. Never again will that happen. You will need a square edge to attach the anchor brackets to the edge of the loft opening, and it must be sturdy wood i.e. a joist. Also the swinging arm to guide the ladder up and down should have one too, but if , like me, you have already boarded the loft out, this will not be possible unless you take up the floor. I have used some good strong meaty screws to attach this bit. All in all a very good product. Feels a little flimsy but takes a lot of weight. Is very lightweight and easy to operate. Just take your time to read the instructions, and gather all the tools you need in advance. It was easy to install once these tips are used.

We needed a loft ladder for our our garage loft but didn't want to pay much for it. Our choice was therefore between a substantial Youngman, such as we have for our in-house loft, or a much cheaper one at less cost and a much reduced load capacity. This latter was important as I am 18stone. This model has a load limit of 100kg, whereas I am 120kg. Having fitted it, I feel just about OK on the ladder but I take care. My wife is perfectly happy when she uses it. The instructions, as others have noted, are another matter. Parts are labelled incorrectly and the directions are far from clear. In fact , having put the ladder up, the first time I tried it , the ladder fell down! I then worked out that two retaining screws were in the wrong places. Reinstalled, the ladder is now fine. So ........it's a good price for occasional use but you may struggle with the instructions, even if you are capable around the house normally.

A great product and very easy to fit, the instructions are clear and easy to follow with basic DIY skills. Took an hour maximum to fit and feels sturdy enough to use for many years. I was very surprised how light the ladder is, this makes folding it in and out of the loft so easy (even for the weakest of individuals!). There is a hatch lock and brackets included to convert your old hatch from a push up to a swing open if required. The lock operates well and is pretty simple to fit, it also feels safe and secure and not likely to swing open on my head. For the price you cant beat it, great product.

Once I had this installed it was a great, well made and easy to use ladder. Installation is managable with some basic diy skills but you need to follow the instructions very closely and in the exact order to avoid getting to the end and having to go back and change things like I did. It can be installed by one person but an extra pair of hands would help, if nothing else because I had to keep moving my stepladder out of the way from up in the loft so I could extend th new ladder during fitting. Once it is fitted it is easy to pull down and extend no matter your height, and putting it away is easy as it clips firmly into place once put back up. I can't comment on the loft hatch fittings as I didn't use them in the end. Instead of trying to adapt my draughty hatch to open downwards I instead ordered a custom made airtight hatch from Jupiter Blue, and I'm happy I did.

Ladder comes complete with all necssary fittings. The fittings screws, loft catch etc are not however of the best quality, I found that the screw heads rounded off easily and replaced them with better quality screws, loft trap door catch is only plastic , again I replaced this at minimal cost for a metal one. The ladder itself is fairly sturdy and fine for occasional use. The instructions are however poor, but with a small amount of DIY knowlege it is fairly easy to work out how the ladder should fit. Overall fitted quite easily and works just fine.

I recently moved into a home that, while not new, was not equipped for easy access into the loft. I wasn't happy about that, so I asked the local handyman for his advice and he gave me this item to order. Best to ask the experts, I say. He installed it in an afternoon and I'm delighted with it. That the handle can go onto either side is great, that he put it on the wrong side was a bit of a faff but it wasn't hard for an old bat like me to change it around. It's nice and sturdy, I've had to deal with some evil ones over the years. I'd definitely recommend this, the price is good and the ladder is definetly up for the job.

First the drawbacks. The product was damaged on arrival; although made of aluminum, one of the ladder's steps had buckled. Whether or not this was done prior to or during transit cannot be determined. In addition to this, one of the screws needed for assembly was missing. Although it was easily sourced and replaced, doing so delayed installation. On the positive side, this product is brilliant for its purpose. It has a solid design and construction with installation guidelines that are clear and easy to follow. I have used the product now on numerous occasions without incident. In short, this is a good product.