Kristin Trom of Coto de Caza, Calif., is not the type of person who frightens easily. The mother of two teenagers, a one-time contractor and now an attorney, she’s used to dealing with difficult ...

Dear Kristin: People most often use step ladders to get up into the attic, but they are not very sturdy — especially when you have your arms full of stuff. The opening through the ceiling is often too ...