loft ladder too short - should we change?

am72

Our ceiling is 2.81m. Loft ladder installer surveyed few weeks ago and then came and fitted ladder today. It's too short.
So we have to put a piece of chipboard on top of the carpet to allow it to reach the floor. I'm a bit worried that is still too short and therefore too steep.
Installer says that he thinks this (piece of board underneath) is a reasonable solution but if we want we can pay £80 more and he will order longer 4 part ladder and install at no cost to us. What do you think?
I think he should have got the right size ladder in the first place.

Robin9

It's difficult to see how he got it wrong - standard height of ceiling needs a standard ladder.

Reject the offer on the basis that the installation is not fit for purpose and require the installer to replace and fit at his own cost.

TheCyclingProgrammer

He has offered to fit the correct ladder at no extra charge which is the correct thing to do.

Is the additional £80 the difference between what you paid for the wrong ladder and how much the correct one costs? If so then I'd say it's reasonable for you to pay this as presumably the supplier is absorbing the cost of the wrong ladder.

If he's asking you to pay for a new ladder ok full then that's not on as it was his mistake!

casper_g

I think on balance I agree with TheCyclingProgrammer.

His offer seems reasonable if £80 is the difference in cost between the ladders, because you will end up having paid the same as you would have done if he got it right in the first place.

Of course you will have had the inconvenience of having to stay in to allow access twice, but I'd only object strongly to this if I thought the installer was trying to profit from his mistake. If he is genuinely fitting the replacement ladder at no cost other than the difference in materials, then I think this is fair.

Paully232000

am72 wrote: »

Our ceiling is 2.81m. Loft ladder installer surveyed few weeks ago and then came and fitted ladder today. It's too short.
So we have to put a piece of chipboard on top of the carpet to allow it to reach the floor. I'm a bit worried that is still too short and therefore too steep.
Installer says that he thinks this (piece of board underneath) is a reasonable solution but if we want we can pay £80 more and he will order longer 4 part ladder and install at no cost to us. What do you think?
I think he should have got the right size ladder in the first place.

Yes he should have done this, but you could argue this all day long, and it doesnt sound like the fitter is disagreeing with you.

As long as the £80 is the cost price of the new ladder then this sounds reasonable.

DaftyDuck

As long as the £80 is the cost price of the new ladder then this sounds reasonable

So long as £80 is the increase in cost price between the shorter and longer ladder, I'd agree.

However, given that a suitable Abru loft ladder can be had for £90 from a DIY shed, you may be paying the full price of the replacement ladder.

So, what make/model of ladder has currently been fitted?

jakemillspaek

It is his mistake and I would want it sorted FOC.
He should of realized his error and rectified it without even telling you.

Paully232000

DaftyDuck wrote: »

So long as £80 is the increase in cost price between the shorter and longer ladder, I'd agree.

However, given that a suitable Abru loft ladder can be had for £90 from a DIY shed, you may be paying the full price of the replacement ladder.

So, what make/model of ladder has currently been fitted?

Yes that is what I meant, not that the OP is paying for two ladders.

DaftyDuck

So, now we need the OP to tell us what the ladder installed actually was; if it's a wooden wide-tread with handrail and automatic lift/drop, then £80 for a longer one isn't bad. If it's a cheap Abru aluminium one, then it's a steep cost.

Mind you, if the OP accepted a quote of £xx for a working loft-ladder, the I suspect the installer should remedy the situation at no charge. But, I doubt he'll do that without excessive pressure, so it's not really worth that route.

wealdroam

DaftyDuck wrote: »

So, now we need the OP to tell us what the ladder installed actually was.

Looks like the OP only posts on average once every ten years.

We may wait a little while.

DaftyDuck

Stuck in the loft, maybe, with no egress