Just got through the THIRD, yes THIRD of what will be (if I’m lucky) four trips to install a Werner metal attic ladder (model 2208). I’ve installed maybe ten wooden ones with never a hitch but this thing redefines garbage.
I don’t like doing small jobs like this, not because I’m above it, but they just don’t interest me and consequently I don’t think I’m all that good at them… I shoulda listened to myself but it was a friend’s father so I agreed to do it, not wanting to seem snooty. It started off badly since I had a helper along to spare my shoulder, which was acting up. I was in the attic, he was outside and I didn’t see the plywood door until it was hung. An unbelievably warped, hideous piece of cr*p that should never have left the factory. I should’ve just yanked it out and told the home owner to bring it back to Lowe’s, but I had hoped to salvage the time I had already invested in this fiasco (my mistake, and one I’ll never repeat). To make matters worse, the gas struts that lift it struck the ladder rail on one side, making it impossible to close properly. After blowing an hour or two fussing with it to no avail, and quadruple checking my rough opening (it’s dead on in all dimensions) the strut head (plastic) cracked and it was obvious it was going to need replacement. Left disgusted, called Werner and waited for the new one.
New strut arrives, I go back to the home and install it. As I suspected, it did nothing to solve the clearance problem, not to mention the godawful plywood door issue. At this point I’m disgusted beyond words, and tell the home owner that this piece of trash will have to be replaced. Regrettably, since he’s the father of a friend my time is rapidly being flushed down the can on this. He calls Werner, tells them what’s going on and they ship him a replacement ladder.
Trip three, I swap the units out… same issue with the strut hitting. Call Werner and they suggest first disconnecting the ladder and then expanding the hinge end of the frame to give it more clearance. I’m skeptical but I try it. Zip… no improvement. Call them again and they tell me that they have a alternative (thinner) ball joint for the end of the gas strut to “solve” this problem. I ask how often this happens and the fella allows as it isn’t unheard of…
Now, I’m waiting for the replacement ball joints so I can (if there’s a God) finish this utter disaster of a time and money wasting job. I did a quick Google on “werner metal attic ladder problems” and found that it had a string of complaints on Amazon for exactly the same issues, as well as a couple of web bloggers that raved about the same thing. Trash trash trash trash… I’d like to say I feel better now, but until this horror show is over I won’t.
Replies
I installed on with the help of my SIL in about 45 min, and all she did was hold up the othjer end etc.
I'm sorry, I thought you wanted it done the right way.
Well... I guess I'm paying for all the other folks that had an easy go of it Ed. I found at least five online b*tch sessions about jamming and clearance issues. I'm sure that if they're going to the trouble to machine thinner balljoints to send out to folks, this isn't the first time this has come up. My question is why not just use the thinner ball joints in the first place and be done with it?
Sorry Paul, it just struck me as so funny.View Image
We are utterly unamused... where's my Wild Turkey?
oh gawd haha
Stop it Ed, yer killin' me!
Those Werner S2208 and S2210 ladders (with MK # 1 through 4; made in 2003 to 2005, when you bought yours) had faulty hinges and sheared-off. Class action was settled in 2014. You should le the owners of this ladder know. Very dangerous. Not a lawyer, just a concerned citizen
https://www.classaction.org/werner-attic-ladders
Those Werner S2208 and S2210 ladders (with MK # 1 through 4; made in 2003 to 2005, when you bought yours) had faulty hinges and sheared-off. Class action was settled in 2014. You should le the owners of this ladder know. Very dangerous. Not a lawyer, just a concerned citizen
https://www.classaction.org/werner-attic-ladders
hahahahhaha very funny man!
Funny? People have broken their backs and been seriously injured because of those ladders.
Wyatt is a spammer.
He forgot his spam link in the above post.
His message will be left up because your reply was spot on!
This probably doesn't help after what you've been through but I experienced matters like this early on as a young fella and I have since that time always stood fast by a rule that if something doesn't agree with my skills and experience regarding any products involved and the task at hand I quickly point out what I see as problems, make recommendations and then politely step away from the matter altogether. If they take my advice in its entirety then I go to work. If not, then I've spared myself the outright misery and regret that I know most often never lets go of you until it reaches your last nerve. I never broke that rule for anyone and over all these years it has always turned out to be the wise choice.
Again, not the sort of reply you necessarily need or want but it's a discipline I adopted that has saved me more times than I can count.