Fixed loft ladders and boarding help home-owners put safety first in the Midlands

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This week we were messaged on our Facebook page by a homeowner in the Midlands whose husband had put his foot through the ceiling of their bedroom whilst trying to retrieve boxes from the loft. Whilst the image of a boot coming through the ceiling calls to mind a scene from a classic British sit-com, it does raise a serious question – how safe is your loft?

Making loft access safe in the Midlands

Loft boarding

Ok, so we know that there are more exciting things to spend your hard-earned cash on than loft boarding, but if you are balancing in your loft space between joists, then you really need to think about it. You will reap the reward for years to come and avoid the nightmare scenario like our Facebook friend of having to repair a hole in your ceiling. Or worse, a trip to A & E. Loft boarding can be completed in less than a day and will even add to the insulation in your property, so it is a win-win situation.

Install a fixed ladder

Without a doubt, the single most important thing you can do to improve safety when accessing your loft is to install a fixed ladder. We are often surprised at how risk-averse adults will blithely climb a precarious step ladder carrying heavy boxes. Not to mention having to heave themselves up to the loft from the platform of a ladder that stops short of the ceiling.  A fixed ladder means just that – it will not move from under you. Add to that a hand-rail and your ascent to the loft is not only much easier, but far safer. Some of our customers have thought for years about getting a fixed ladder before age catches up with them and they decide that they just can’t take the risk of using a step ladder any more. Stu’s Loft Ladders can even build a handrail around the opening in the loft if you want to increase safety when coming down the ladder too.

Reposition the hatch

Housebuilders often position loft hatches on the landing so as to avoid bedrooms with heavy furniture. This can mean that the hatch is a bit too near the stairs for comfort. We can move the loft hatch – either partially so that we change its orientation, or close it up and relocate to a safer and more convenient location. If you are using a step ladder to access your loft hatch near the stairs, then you really should call us in to talk about making the whole process safer.

In summary, if you feel that accessing your loft is not safe then it probably isn’t and you should talk to the experts. Contact us now to find out more.

Looking for loft improvements in the Midlands – why choose a specialist loft company?

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We specialise in improving lofts and loft access. It’s what we do, day in day out and it’s been that way for more than 10 years.

You can’t beat experience

All our experience means that very little throws us on a job because we’ve seen in all. Loft access in an awkward place? No problem, we can change the orientation of the opening or even move it altogether. Roof is low where the loft ladder comes up – again we can easily solve this with the right ladder which will not require much stowage space.

We can easily enlarge the loft opening to make it a more practical size, as above, or even move it altogether

Not all quotes are equal

We pride ourselves on offering value for money. We work quickly and efficiently because we know our trade inside out, which means that our prices are competitive. As always, be aware of quotes that seem too good to be true. Some firms will quote low to get the work. Check what exactly is included in the quote. The price you get should be the most you will pay on the day without any hidden extras. You should also find out what kind of ladder you are getting.

There can be a huge difference in loft ladders in terms of their specification and what weight they can bear. We only source top quality ladders from a specialist trade supplier that we have been using for a decade. Our happy customers are testament to the reliability of the products.

We only fit the best quality ladders whether aluminium or timber such as this one

Bespoke details

You might want more than the standard loft package. We are trained carpenters and can add in bespoke items. Recently one customer with mobility issues asked for a custom-made railing around the loft opening so that she could use it safely. We can also build loft storage with shelves wide enough to take bulky boxes and suitcases. 

Above: this customer wanted a bespoke safety rail

We take out the hassle factor

We often share photos of the jobs that we do under the title of “what a difference a day makes.” Our experience means that we can complete most jobs in less than a day- leaving you free to start storing and organising your belongings in the new space we create. We use large dust sheets and take away any debris with us. We can even paint loft hatches so that you would think they had been there all along. 

Customer recommendations

The fact that we have been improving lofts for more than a decade means that we have lots of recent reviews from happy customers. Take a look at the reviews section of this website and see our Facebook page. We are proud to be called reliable, professional and friendly by our customers.

Contact us now for a no-obligation quote and find out why using a specialist is best!

New build owners in Redditch increase space with loft boarding

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New houses are getting smaller. That is according to research from LABC Warranty, the body that provides warranties for new build homes. The research reveals that houses built in 2010 onwards are an average of 4m2 smaller than those built a decade before. The average living room is now 1.6m2 smaller too and bedroom size is also shrinking.

Stu’s Loft Ladders has been pretty busy since lockdown eased and what we are noticing is that a large proportion of our work is in new build properties. Surely if you have bought a new build you have everything you need with built-in storage? Apparently not. The size of properties means that a couple of years into ownership people who love their homes are hankering after more space and looking upwards.

New build loft boarding and ladder fitting in Redditch 

This week we improved loft storage in two relatively new properties in Worcestershire: one in Webheath, Redditch and one in Feckenham, a village just outside the town.

You can see from the pictures the difference that boarding makes. In the house below it was previously impossible to store things in a clean and tidy manner. With the loft boarded, suddenly the owners were able to free up space in their living areas and bedrooms.  Not bad for a day’s work.

We are always willing to talk through your questions – please call us on 07712 327889. 

Looking for loft ladders and loft boarding in the Midlands – Get ready with a September Sort Out

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For many of us, whether we have children in school or not, September always feels like a fresh start. The summer is over and it’s time to address those issues and jobs that have waited until it is business as usual. Although in 2020 nothing is “as usual,” students returning to school and workers back to the office, still provide a taste of normality and the chance to look ahead. 

September Sort Out is doing its annual rounds of promotion on social media and online – you can easily find a calendar to help you tackle the contents of your entire house in just 15 minutes a day over the course of the month. Having a “good sort out” is one of the most quoted reasons from our customers for boarding the loft and or fitting a fixed ladder. Nobody wants to board the loft to fill it immediately with junk they have been hoarding elsewhere. Usually they intend to store clearly labelled boxes with contents that have already with sorted and organised. We all start with good intentions!

Decluttering Top tips for loft storage

If you are having a September Sort Out. Here are our top tips:

  1. Tackle a small area first. Even if you want to declutter the whole house, starting with one bookcase or problem area is less daunting. You can do the rest in time. You don’t have to stick to a schedule, but breaking the task down into manageable chunks makes sense.
  2. Before you start, gather together five boxes or bags and label them: items to throw away, recycling, charity shop, for sale, and a final one for storage.
  3. Ask yourself, “When did I last use this item?” If it was more than a year ago, then think, “Why am I keeping it?” If it is for sentimental reasons then maybe you could display the item somewhere to enjoy it, rather than gathering dust in a pile. If it is an item that you may need in the future, but don’t use regularly, then it is probably perfect to store in the loft.
  4. Think about how you store items. A box with a lid will keep the items in good condition so that you don’t feel like you are just dumping them out of sight to gather mildew. For clothes, think about vacuum packing to keep them moth and dust free. Items sorted and grouped and even labelled will save time in the future – we all know this, but sometimes can’t be bothered or just want to get on with the job. Gathering the right storage boxes or bags in advance, together with labels and marker pens, means that it is much more likely to happen.
  5. Think about your loft access. If you don’t have a fixed ladder, then adding one can make an enormous difference to how easily and safely you can retrieve items. If you are balancing between ceiling joists when you go up to your loft, then it is definitely time to think about getting it boarded.

We help Warwickshire and Worcestershire homeowners reclaim space with loft improvements

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Love having the family home but wish there was more storage space?

So for lockdown you were delighted that family members came home to stay? Several months later and you are still glad, but wish that they would sort their stuff out. Or take some of it to the tip? Perhaps they went back to their own homes or back to uni but still left you minding some of their belongings.

Whether it is children home from university or family members who lived alone and opted to move in, we all come with so much stuff these days. Space is at a premium in our homes and extending or moving is not always an option, particularly in the strange times that are 2020.

In less than a day, we help customers to declutter by providing loft improvement services. There is often a lot of wasted space sitting above our heads that can become usable storage with little interruption to your home lives.  

Loft boarding

Loft Boarding Installation

We can board all or only part of your loft. This doesn’t mean compromising on insulation – you can keep that in place and the boards we use increase the heat efficiency of your home.

Fixed loft ladder

A fixed ladder makes accessing the loft safer; you know that the ladder is not going to move around when you are on it. There are several options for budget and preference depending on the space you have.

Enlarge or move the loft hatch

The third part of the service we provide is to improve the loft opening itself. We can enlarge loft hatches, fit a new, neat surround and hatch door or even move the opening to somewhere more convenient.

So, if you need to accommodate belongings – yours and those of family members  – then maybe looking up will provide the answer.

Working from home in Warwickshire or Worcestershire? Create dedicated space with loft storage

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Lockdown has changed the way we use our homes. Many of us are finding space to be the great luxury. Our homes had to serve us as gym, zoom backdrop and home office. 

Create a feeling of space with loft storage

If you are working from home, as many people continue to do, how do you create a feeling of space conducive to work? Or a backdrop for zoom meetings that doesn’t reveal overflowing shelves and piles of belongings that don’t have a proper home. The answer might be by looking up.

Loft boarding takes less than a day

Boarding the loft is a quick fix home improvement. It can be done in less than a day and doesn’t affect you while it is being done. It also leaves no mess – or not with the right contractor, such as Stu’s Loft Ladders. 

With the addition of a fixed ladder, storage possibilities open up. When the hassle of going up to the loft is removed, you suddenly have the option of storing items that you may want to access quickly, but don’t need every day or certainly that you don’t want to be in the background of any online work meetings or a virtual quiz.

See our services page for more details.

Garage loft boarding in Shirley highlights change in way we use our homes

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Not all of our jobs involve conventional lofts. Some installations are more unusual or are for a specific purpose.

Boarding garage creates home gym

This week we boarded the ceiling of a garage in Shirley for a customer who wanted to create a home gym. 

We’ve boarded many garage lofts over the years, but this was the first time we’ve boarded the underside of the ceiling. The customer wanted to create a gym at ground level and, for aesthetics, wanted a smooth ceiling without the expense and mess of plastering. We boarded the loft using MDF, ready for the customer to paint over.  We are wondering if post-lockdown this might be a trend as people find ways to exercise at home.

Loft boarding frees up living space 

We often board garage lofts to create additional storage. We all tend to fill whatever space we have and for customers who want to be able to see the floor again in their garage by moving items they only occasionally need, the loft is the perfect option. 

In the past, customers have wanted to create room in the garage for bikes, a new car, or lawnmowers. Lockdown has changed the way we view our homes and a garage provides the ideal space for exercise equipment, leisure pursuits or even a home office. With a spike in bike sales many people might find that they want space back in their garage to store them. 

We are certainly busy as people want to make the most of the space they have, in case they need to go into lockdown or isolation again. Hopefully that will not happen, but our customers will be able to enjoy the extra space they free up by moving belongings to loft storage.

Customers Ready to Embrace Loft Storage in Redditch and Studley

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Customer confidence grows for home improvements with social distancing

It’s good to be busy. For any small trader getting through lockdown has been hard and the return to a new normal has been a nervous time for both customer and business owner. We have been delighted to see trade pick up from the start of July as customers show confidence in having us work within their homes to improve loft storage.

“Over lockdown everyone has been stuck in their homes, with time to think about what they could improve,” commented Stuart Dyson, owner of Stu’s Loft Ladders. “Creating accessible storage in the loft through boarding and fitting a fixed ladder can be a small change, but one that allows homeowners to transform their living space. No more infrequently used items taking up valuable space in rooms and garages, instead they can be carried safely and easily up to the loft. Boarding also means an end to precarious balancing between joists.

“To start with trade was slow but steady; now customers are regaining confidence and want to get on with jobs.” 

Last week our team quoted on seven jobs, six of which are set to proceed. The legacy of lockdown is that customers want to think for longer before proceeding. In these strange times, we all want to be sure that we are doing the right thing. 

“Post-lockdown, people are definitely taking longer before they decide to proceed,” explained Stuart. “Normally we give customers a price when we visit and they make a decision whilst we are still there. If they say they want to think about it, it usually means a no, but that is not the case at the moment, as customers are calling back after a week and wanting to go ahead.

“We are able to reassure customers that we take social distancing very seriously and that the job is nearly always completed within the day.”

Loft boarding, ladder fitting and new hatch in Redditch 3-storey home

This week we have helped homeowners in Redditch to gain full access to their loft with the holy trinity of loft improvement: enlarged hatch, fixed ladder and boarding. In a modern property we enlarged the loft opening to fit a standard plastic surround, which leaves a neat finish on a landing where space is tight. The customer chose a lightweight, easy to operate, aluminum three-section ladder – again a great choice where space is limited.

Studley traditional semi-detached is perfect for loft storage

The enlarged loft hatch and as it was when we arrived

We also completed loft improvements in Studley in a 1930’s semi-detached with lath and plaster ceilings. This traditional style property is perfect for creating storage space as the triangular structure without additional trusses leaves a large area. In this case, we fitted a fixed ladder and loft hatch, leaving the customer the option of completing the boarding at a later date.

Having removed the old surround, we enlarged the hatch and fitted a fixed aluminium ladder

As we started by saying, it’s good to be busy. We’ve been delighted to receive four glowing reviews in two weeks on our Facebook page. For independent traders, the upside of customers homeworking is that they are at their computers ready to post reviews! 

 

Loft opening too small? How we fixed the problem for customers in Stratford upon Avon and Evesham

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In planning to improve access to your loft you have to look at the whole package. You might fit a new ladder and even board the loft, but if the loft opening itself is too small, then getting up there is still going to be a hassle. This is a particularly important consideration if you plan to store larger items.

As part of a loft improvement job we often enlarge the opening and fit a roomier hatch and surround.  It might seem like an additional expense, but if you are spending money on a ladder and boarding you might as well spend the minimal amount extra and make the whole experience of accessing your loft much easier.

This was the case at two jobs this week –  very different properties, but with a need for easy loft access in common.

New build loft boarding in Stratford upon Avon

We fitted an aluminium ladder and boarded the loft of a new build property in the Arden Quarter, near the railway station in Stratford upon Avon.  This is a new development close to the historic town centre.

In a two-bed terrace, the loft offered valuable storage and so we boarded all of the 5m by 2.5m space. As with all new builds, we first raised the level of the loft boards to accommodate the existing insulation.

On our advice, the young couple chose to open up the loft hatch by about 5 inches and we installed a plastic insulated loft hatch.

Wooden loft ladder option in Evesham

Our second loft hatch enlargement of the week was to a 1970s four-bedroom detached in Ashton Under Hill, a Worcestershire village near to Evesham. For these customers, space in the house itself was less of an issue and the budget was larger. However, in common with our earlier customers, the existing loft hatch itself was small. The customer explained that they needed to access the loft frequently and found it rather awkward. We enlarged the loft opening by 12 inches and fitted a wooden loft ladder making the whole process stress-free for them.

“Many customers if they are choosing to improve the loft decide it is worth spending a little extra to enlarge the loft opening itself,” explained Stuart Dyson of Stu’s Loft Ladders. “We see this a lot with customers choosing a wooden loft ladder which is already a more expensive option. They are committing money to gain better loft access and so would rather complete the improvement.”

Problem Solved With A Telescopic Loft Ladder in Warwickshire

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Think you can’t have a loft ladder because there isn’t enough clearance space? Many people believe this to be true or have been told this in the past, but a telescopic ladder could be the solution.

Indeed for many customers who want a fixed loft ladder, telescopic is the only option if the loft hatch emerges under a low angled roof.

Loft ladder for thatched home near Stratford-upon-Avon

This was the case at a thatched property in Broom, Warwickshire, near Stratford-upon-Avon.  The hatch accessed the loft space at a point under the roof where there was not adequate stowage space for an aluminium ladder. Whilst a wooden ladder is also suitable where space is tight, timber ladders require a loft hatch of at least 1m in length. For these homeowners, this was not an option as the hatch was located in the bathroom.

It is not uncommon for hatches to be located in the bathroom or bedroom – in fact we regularly move loft hatches for customers. On this job, the customer preferred to leave where it was and instead opted for a 3ft by 2ft plastic hatch and telescopic ladder.

Using a telescopic ladder couldn’t be easier

A telescopic ladder is not a budget option, costing more than a wooden one, but for many customers who cannot accommodate a 1m hatch, it is the best choice. This does not mean that it is second best – a telescopic ladder is a high-end, quality product and will take as much weight as a wooden version

Using a telescopic ladder couldn’t be easier – you use the fitted nylon strap to pull the ladder down before sliding it into position. It is both lightweight and sturdy once in place.

To talk through the options for loft ladders or boarding, please use the contact page accessed here.