Louisville Ladder AL258P Everest Aluminum Attic Ladder 350 Pound Capacity 25.5-Inch by 63-Inch Opening Ceiling Heights 10-Foot To 12-Foot

I wish I had read the reviews on this product's 10' ladder version, I would not have made this purchase! I will repeat them here, but check out the Amazon reviews on the 10' ladder version. The wood used on this product is cheap and assembled very cheaply!! It has continually fallen apart on me and required me to make several makeshift repairs. As the other reviewer said, you need a step ladder to open and close this thing, unless your over 7' tall. I found several of the same problems reviewer of the 10' complained about and one pointed out that, "the company is aware of and has done nothing about for several years." As a result of being damaged during assembly or possibly shipping, it closes off center, the frame is 100% square and level, but the metal hindge is bent on one side and so it closes off center, exposing an gap into the attic. I am going to put on a new pilewood door cover and use trim to minimize this issue. I tried to avoid gluing the super cheap insulation onto the door as many reviewers of the 10' ladder suggested, until the wind blew them out of place. Save yourself so headache and glue or caulk them into place.

Do not buy this product, knowing what I know now, I would pay twice as much for a well built attic ladder. If insist on buying this, here is my experience. Follow the instructions very very closely, read them before you open the box. Expect the product to be damaged and to break easily. I did assemble this on my own, I put it up into the attic, used boards at each corner to postion it into place, used the temp straps on each corner to gradually lower it into place, I did have to make my own shims, the ones they give you are a total joke! The assmebly went very smooth, but since I was working alone, took about 20 minutes, if someone helps, you could probably do it in 5 minutes assuming it fits into place. Make sure it is square and level, b/c chances are the product is not, so you being off is going to make it worse. The instructions are very informative, if you follow them they will save you some headaches.

Since the insulation is a joke, I built my own cover that sits inside the attic about the folded ladder. I used rigid foam board with a small piece of wood on top to keep it in place from the wind tunnel created when the garage doors are open.

The ladder are OK. Opening and closing the door is easy and no issue. But one thing that I find it diffucult is to open and close the steps itself. I have to use the telescopic rod to try to pull the steps down and have to do it carefully as otherwise the steps could fall on to you. Also when trying to closed the steps back I have to use the same thod and this time trying to push it up. Wish there is an easier method to do this. This normally not an issue on regular 8 Foot ladder but being this is 12 foot high, there is no way you can just push up like the regular 8ft ladder. If they have mechanism to make opening and closing the steps easier that would be better. So I give 3 star rating for OK only.

› Go to Amazon.com to see both reviews  2.5 out of 5 stars