Loft Ladder Help

Hi guys, looking for some help/ideas please!

I`m currently converting a small loft space into a room which I`m planning on using as a nightshift bedroom. I got the velux in at the weekend and am currently building the walls in preparation for insulating and plasterboarding.
The problem is the (timber) ladder current in place at the moment is very loud when I pull it down....which is not ideal when I get home from a nightshift and try and sneak up the loft without the kids hearing me!
There is a spring on each side which I think are the source of the noise, I`ve also tried lubricating them.
I wonder if I detach the springs if I`d still be able to take the ladder up/down without too much straining? If this was possible I could take down the ladder, sneak up, then pull the ladder up behind me using a rope.

Anyone else got any better ideas?
I just fear, without the springs the ladder might be very heavy to manoeuvre up and down.
Cheers!

I hope you don't have a house fire. Can you not give us a link to a picture of the mechanism? Prising rubbing bits apart and inserting a couple of sheets of plastic bags might do it.
Frank

theprinceofdarkness said:

I hope you don't have a house fire.

Click to expand...

I also hope I don`t have a house fire :O

At work now, will get a picture though. At least I have access/egress through the velux window if it came to it.

Cheers.