A trip to the attic is supposed to be routine. But for households using certain folding attic ladders, that everyday task could quickly become dangerous.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says more than 1.7 million Louisville Ladder attic stairway ladders are being recalled because a bolt can fail while someone is using one.
What happened?
Included in the August 6 recall are gas-strut attic ladders sold under the Louisville, Featherlite, Lite and Century names. These aluminum or wood-frame units have handrails, fold up into the attic, and were made in several sizes for different ceiling openings.
Louisville Ladder told regulators it has received 11 reports of bolts breaking. Because that failure can happen during use, the defect creates a fall risk that could lead to serious injury or death. One report involved injuries to a consumer's head, neck, and back.
Priced between $170 and $600, the ladders were sold from November 2012 through July 2026 at retailers including Home Depot, Lowe's, Do It Best, Orgill and Amazon.
About 1.77 million were sold in the U.S., with another 13,054 sold in Canada.
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Why does it matter?
Attic ladders are easy to overlook because they are built into the home and often seem permanent. But when a built-in product fails, the consequences can be severe, especially if someone is carrying boxes, stepping down awkwardly, or using the ladder alone.
Falls in and around the home can lead to injuries that affect work, mobility, and finances.
Not every homeowner sees recall notices, and not every tenant even knows what brand of ladder is installed above them. Community sharing helps close that gap.
If a ladder can be safely fixed with a manufacturer-provided remedy, that may keep a large product out of the waste stream instead of sending it straight to a landfill.
What can I do?
Anyone with one of the recalled ladders should stop using it immediately and register for a free repair kit from Louisville Ladder. Owners will need the ladder's model number, which is printed on the inside of the attic door.
For qualifying ladders, the company says it will send a kit containing two replacement 1/4-inch spreader bolts, washers, lock nuts and installation instructions. Consumers can register at Atticstairwayrecall.expertinquiry.com.
For more information, consumers can call Louisville Ladder toll-free at 888-679-5132 on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET, or visit the company's website and click the "Urgent Recall Notice" at the top of the page.
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