Without an attic ladder or set of stairs, a home’s attic usually has untapped potential. Homeowners know it’s up there, but it’s a hassle to access for storage, much less use as a living space.

Q–My new home has an access panel that leads to the attic area. I am tired of using a dangerous stepladder to get to this part of my home. A folding attic ladder is of some interest to me. However, ...