Replacing attic ladder. Suggestions?

[dbhost]

My house is fitted with 2 attic ladders, both old wooden ladders, and one of them is particularly rickety... Both locations the ladders are fitted to 8' 6" ceilings, with 2x10(I think) joists...

I can change up the rough opening some, but the current opening is 25.5" x 56".

I would like suggestions for a good attic ladder. I would like...

#1. Highest weight capacity / rating. (I'm NOT skinny).
#2. Insulation so that I'm not pumping AC / Heat out the hole in the ceiling.
#3. Largest opening possible for access... Again, I'm not skinny...

What ladders would you folks recommend?

[cabinetman]

This one at Lowes has 5" wider and 4" longer opening. Is that enough?
.

[dbhost]

That should do the trick! Thanks...

(I could have sworn I went through Lowes site and didn't see anything like that...)

[LarryG]

We don't often have attic stairs on our projects, but when we do we always specify the kind that telescopes as a single, non-folding piece. Far superior in all respects to the lightweight accordion-fold jobs sold at the big-box stores.

[messmaker]

I got the Warner metal version at Lowes. It is top notch. I would buy again in a minute.

[conwaygolfer]

I also like the metal ladders. Put one in my garage. Much sturdier than wood.
Conwaygolfer

[toolguy1000]

HD has a new one that uses hydraulic pistons, like those on minivan tailgates, to raise and lower the stairs, rather than the springs common to most fold down attic stairs:

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/...62&marketID=15

it may cost a little more but it' s worth it. i had to change the control arms ion my attic stairs recently and while it wasn't overly difficult, it would have been easier if i could have removed two hydraulic pistons instead of those springs. and aluminum, if possible, is the way to go. the feet are adjustable so the whole "right length to cut the wooden legs and at what angle" is a non issue.

and i'd definately add one of these:

http://www.energyfederation.org/txu_...p/cPath/391_57

or, you can do as i did and get two sheets of dow supr tuf r polyisosyanurate insulation and make it yourself with two tubes of constructin adhesive and two hinges.