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totally agree; misjudged and bought a 3 step that is too small for this job but was/is ok for painting etc.
Might just get a 5 step for this job .. it looks do-able but then again the loft is a can of worms atm ;)
That made to measure hatch door is insulated, made with steel and about £180 for the size I require.
amey-
Quality is not cheap. If you go the other route you have a piece of plywood insulating your loft with a reasonable gap all around it. Loft doors almost always get covered with grubby handprints too. The diesel fumes collect in the loft and it gets all over the place when you get things in and out.
If you overheat in the summer, try lifting the loft hatch out. Makes for brilliant ghetto air-conditioning.
Down side with the thick loft door is it will be in the way when you're using the loft ladder.
Airhead
That's some pretty fancy hatches they've got there. Nothing wrong with that. If you're providing that to a carpenter it shouldn't take too long fit, as he's said. You would need a standard A frame ladder to fit the hatch like that though as you're not going to able to fit it with the loft ladder extended, well you could but it would be an unholy pain in the ass.
Why not buy a 5 step aluminium A frame ladder, every house should have at least a 3 step one, if you have taller ceilings a 5 step is just as good, You can pick up an Aluminium 5 step one from Homebase for £30. The pressed aluminium ones are light and easy to move when extended, the 'safety ladders' are usually heavy and expensive, you won't want to decorate a room with one. You can store it in the loft once you've fitted the ladder!
Don't forget, ladders are one of the most common causes of diy accidents.