# Timber loft ladders > Wooden loft ladders fitted across Cambridgeshire. Warmer and quieter than metal, with an insulated draught sealed hatch, from a 1110 x 550mm ceiling opening. Source: https://completeloftservices.co.uk/loft-ladders/timber/ Generated: 2026-09-21 --- - [Home](/) - [Loft ladders](/loft-ladders/) - Timber # Timber loft ladders Quieter to climb, warmer underfoot and the one people choose when the loft ladder is going to be visible from the landing. Usually supplied with an insulated hatch, which matters more than it sounds. [Book a free survey](#enquire) [How it compares](#compare) ## When this is the right one We fit all four types, so this is not a nudge towards timber. It is simply the one people choose once they have climbed both, and these are the reasons they give. [All four types](/loft-ladders/) - ### You want it to look like part of the house A white timber hatch set into the ceiling reads as joinery rather than kit. On a period house in Ely or a village cottage it is usually the only type that does not look bolted on. Fit - ### You notice cold feet and cold draughts Timber is warm to touch, and these ladders normally come with an insulated hatch and a seal, so the hole in your ceiling stops being a chimney. Feel - ### The loft is used by everyone Wider treads and a handrail make a timber ladder the easiest of the four to climb in socks with a box under one arm. Who ## What it means for your hatch Timber ladders need a real opening: the common Fakro LWK Komfort wants 1110 x 550mm and suits a floor to ceiling height up to 2.80m. If your hatch is smaller than that, enlarging it is part of the quote and priced on the price list, and on a timber job it is usually worth doing because you get an insulated, draught sealed lid out of it rather than the thin sheet of ply most lofts have. Hatches and enlarging an opening ## What it is like to live with Everything people tell us afterwards about a timber ladder, before you buy one. - ### Quiet underfoot No ring, no rattle. The single most common reason people pick timber after climbing both. - ### An insulated lid as standard The hatch is the hole in the middle of your [insulation](/loft-insulation/). A sealed, insulated one stops the landing feeling cold under the hatch. - ### Rated at 160kg per step Plenty for a person and what they are carrying, and we will tell you the figure for the exact ladder we quote. - ### Heavier to pull down It is wood. Not a problem for most people, but if that matters, an aluminium or an electric ladder is lighter work. ## How the four compare Timber against the other three, on the makers' own published numbers. Note the opening: it asks for more ceiling than the rest. Type Smallest opening published Reaches Rated load Landing needed Aluminium Varies by model, measured at the survey Up to 3.58m on the tallest models 200kg maximum loading About 128cm of landing for a folding ladder Telescopic From 520 x 600mm Up to 2.6m 150kg, the standard minimum Least of the four, it collapses into itself Timber From 1110 x 550mm Up to 2.80m 160kg per step About 128cm of landing Electric From 750 x 530mm made to measure Up to 4.6m 200kg per step About 150cm, it drops almost straight down Published manufacturer figures, read September 2026: the timber and metal ranges via [Fakro](https://www.fakro.co.uk/products/all-products/loft-ladders/metal-folding-section-loft-ladders/) and [Premier Loft Ladders](https://www.premierloftladders.co.uk/product-range/wooden-loft-ladders/lwk/), the concertina figures from the [Supreme](https://www.premierloftladders.co.uk/product-range/aluminium-loft-ladders/supreme-loft-ladder/) and [Piccolo](https://www.premierloftladders.co.uk/product-range/aluminium-loft-ladders/piccolo-loft-ladder/), the telescopic minimum opening from [Loftshop](https://www.loftshop.co.uk/products/loft-ladders/aluminium-steel-loft-ladders/Telesteps-Telescopic-Loft-Ladder), and the landing figures from [Fakro's own guide](https://www.fakro.co.uk/blog/how-to-choose-a-loft-ladder/). The exact ladder we fit depends on what your supplier stocks, and we measure your loft before we quote. ## Questions about timber loft ladders **What size opening does a timber ladder need?** A common one, the Fakro LWK Komfort, needs 1110 x 550mm and suits a drop up to 2.80m. If yours is smaller we enlarge it and you get a properly lined, insulated hatch as part of the work. **Does timber last as long as metal in a cold loft?** Yes, when it is a purpose made loft ladder rather than a converted stepladder. They are built for the damp and the temperature swings of a roof space. **Is the insulated hatch worth it?** It is the part people notice. An uninsulated hatch leaks heat straight out of the landing ceiling, and it is a cold spot you can feel standing underneath it. **Can I paint it to match?** The hatch, yes, and most are supplied white already. We leave it ready for you to decorate if you want it to disappear into the ceiling. ## The other three If your hatch is small or your landing is tight, one of these will fit where timber will not, and we fit all of them. [A boarded floor](/loft-boarding/) is the usual next question. - [AluminiumLight, and the usual choice](/loft-ladders/aluminium/) - [TelescopicFor a tight landing](/loft-ladders/telescopic/) - [ElectricDown at the touch of a button](/loft-ladders/electric/) ## Book a free survey this week It takes about twenty minutes and you get a written price with nothing hidden in it. If the job is not worth doing, we will tell you that too. [01223 000 000](tel:01223000000)