House figures boost confidence in loft improvements in the West Midlands

Posted by Stu's Loft Ladders editorial team on

It’s a great time to invest in your home through loft boarding or fixed ladder fitting

Our homes are our castles, or so the saying goes, and during the past two years our homes have felt like fortresses at times.  Over 2021, the housing market reflected the renewed status of our homes by defying predictions and remaining buoyant.

According to figures from the Office for National Statistics, the average house price in the UK increased by 10% in the 12 months leading up to November 2021.

With properties in high demand, people are feeling confident about making improvements that they can enjoy and which will also add value to their homes.

Our own experience backs up this picture of confidence amongst customers investing in their home. Since lockdowns ended, we are as busy, if not busier, than in pre-pandemic times.

Creating storage in the loft is a relatively low-cost option. For an average cost of £35 per square metre, you can organise your home by decluttering the areas you use most or clearing space to create new zones for work or leisure. Add in a fixed ladder, and the storage becomes conveniently and safely accessed.

Whilst we are yet to see what the trend for property prices will be during 2022, investing in the home you love still looks like a sensible option. We might not face more lockdowns, but the way we use our homes has changed with many people looking a balance between home and office working. The widespread use of virtual platforms now means that we can participate in many activities without leaving our own living room.

To find out more take a look at our services page.

5-star Reviews – Why You Can Trust Us For Your Loft Improvement Job Wherever You Live in Warwickshire and Worcestershire

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Have you looked at our review page? If you are thinking about having your loft boarded or a loft ladder fitted, then we suggest you do.  We have just had four new reviews posted – all genuine, all from very happy customers. And it means the world to us. Without customer recommendation we wouldn’t have a business. Word of mouth, whether literal or digital, is what keeps us in work – and we are very busy!

Trust, respect and quality in loft improvements

What the reviews mean for customers is a trust – that we will do what we say and that we will treat you and your home with respect. It also is a testament that the quality of our work is what you would expect and by that we mean nothing less than excellent!

So, we are not blowing our own trumpet – we will let our customers do that for us! http://www.stusloftladders.co.uk/Reviews/

Does boarding your loft add value to your home in Worcestershire and Warwickshire?

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When planning any home improvement, most of us want to know if the outlay will be worth it in terms of property value.

The important thing to point out is that loft improvements, such as boarding and fitting a fixed ladder, are not the same as a loft conversion. By boarding you are not creating habitable space, even if you install lighting or a window. Loft conversions have to abide by building regulations and therefore are in a different category.

Loft boarding = useable space

However, whilst boarding the loft might not count towards the overall floorspace of the property in estate agent terms, it does give you useable space and makes your home more attractive to potential buyers.

Additional selling point

Boarding the loft is a job most people like to have done and is an additional selling point, particularly over a similar property which does not offer it.

Showcase features

Furthermore, boarding the loft enables you to declutter living areas, creating the illusion of more space when showcasing rooms in marketing materials. If a house looks too busy with belongings, estate agents will often advise the seller to move some items to storage to better showcase their property. Desirable features such as fireplaces and windows stand out more when there is not so much clutter detracting from them.

Perhaps the greatest bonus of loft boarding is that you will have the benefit of it whilst you live in the property. It is very common for homeowners to prepare their home to sell by decluttering and decorating only to fall in love with it all over again. Having storage space creates room to rethink and play with how you use the living areas. 

Loft boarding might be cheaper than you think

As with most things in life, the answer to whether improving the loft adds value is multifaceted. It is unlikely to be a job that you will regret having done as it might be better value than you think.  Contact us now for a quotation.

Loft improvements in Warwick, Redditch, Bidford and Stratford-upon-Avon – all in a week’s work for Stu’s Loft Ladders!

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June is generally a busy month. We are not yet into summer holidays and people are getting on with home improvements before they go away. This year, the effect of coming out of lockdown and people feeling more confident about having work done in their homes, means that our diary is packed. We are certainly not complaining, as we love to be busy! Last week’s loft improvement jobs show a good range of the services we provide.

Boarding in Warwick

First up was a loft boarding job in Warwick, boarding around central roof supports, but leaving the area up to the eaves. We also fitted an aluminium ladder, creating an easy loft access and storage solution. A happy customer and our week was off to a good start!

Partial loft board in Bidford-On-Avon

Next we visited Bidford on Avon for a boarding job. The customer only wanted a partial board, so we created a storage area in the middle section the loft. Another happy customer!

Loft boarding and timber ladder in Stratford-upon-Avon

On to Stratford-upon-Avon. Here we turned wasted space into functional storage with a timber ladder.  Again, the customer wanted boarding to the middle section only, but in this large loft, this still created a large amount of storage potential.

Redditch boarding to middle section of loft

Later in the week we were in Redditch. Again creating a useable storage area with a board to the middle section of a loft. 

Enlarging and moving loft hatches

Our next two jobs were all about loft hatches. In Bidford, we enlarged the loft opening for a client and fitted a new hatch. To finish the week off, we visited another customer to move the loft opening, which had been over the stairs. This is a common location for hatches in older houses and not one that is very safe. We turned the loft around to run the other way on the landing and fitted an aluminium ladder and plastic hatch. 

Get in touch for your loft improvement quote

As you can tell, we specialise in loft improvements and we stay busy through customer recommendations. We are taking bookings now for the rest of June and July. Get in touch if you need some help to unlock the storage potential of your loft! Or still not sure? Check out more pictures of these jobs and others on our Facebook page.

Hatching loft improvement plans in the West Midlands

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Loft hatches – you might not spend much time thinking about yours, but if it is in the wrong place, then it could be preventing you from accessing the storage potential in your loft.

Moving the loft hatch

We regularly move loft openings for customers to more convenient locations. In older houses loft hatches are often in bedrooms – problematic if it means shifting heavy furniture out of the way in order to gain access. It is also not very handy to have a loft hatch in a child’s bedroom – with a small child evening trips up to the loft are out of the question and with a teenager you will have to negotiate a path through their floordrobe.

Change the direction of your loft opening

Most loft hatches are on the landing. However, if your loft hatch is too near the stairs, it could be unsafe for you to access it and you could think about making a change. That doesn’t have to be a complete move, it could mean simply changing the orientation. People imagine that this will be a messy job, but we live up to our promise to leave your home as neat and tidy as we found it.

Energy efficient loft hatch

If you live in a period property, an ill-fitting loft hatch could be a cause of heat loss in your home. An insulated, tight fitting loft hatch could help you to save energy. You can choose from timber or U-PVC, the latter in a white finish suiting most paint schemes.

Loft hatches – bigger could be better

The other option that you might consider is enlarging the loft opening. It’s obvious – the size of the loft opening dictates what you are able to store. Too small and negotiating larger boxes into the loft will be tricky. Enlarging the loft hatch is one of the most common add-on jobs that we do when fitting a loft ladder. This is particularly the case in new-build properties, which have smaller loft hatches fitted as standard. Again, we leave your ceiling looking as it did before, plastering and painting around the new loft hatch so that it looks as if it was always that way.

No obligation quote

Call us now to get a quote on 07712 327889.

We do more than board lofts and fit ladders for customers throughout Warwickshire and Worcestershire

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Want to fit a loft ladder but worried about safety? No worries, we can fit a bespoke handrail. Want to take larger items up to the loft? Again, no problem we can enlarge the loft hatch to make this simpler.

The above are just two examples of additional jobs that we can offer when boarding the loft or fitting a loft ladder.

Optional extras no problem for skilled carpenters

With over 10 years of experience in loft improvement, there is not much that we can’t fit as part of a job. These are all jobs that we only undertake as add-ons for customers meaning that you get the benefit of having skilled carpenters improve your loft.

The most popular add-on that we do is to build truss shelving. These shelves sit on the V of the roof trusses and provide a handy area for storage, leaving the floor clear to move around in your loft.

“We are doing more and more truss shelving,” says Stuart Dyson, owner of Stu’s Loft Ladders. “The cost is minimal as part of a loft boarding or ladder fitting job. Customers are obviously thinking ahead to how they are going to use the space they create.”

Truss shelving is not the only kind of bespoke storage we can build in. Whatever you need to store, we can most likely build shelving for it. A popular option is shelving that is the right size to store suitcases.

Handrails

In addition, we regularly fit handrails for customers who are worried about being unsteady on their feet, possibly due to ageing or disability. Having a handrail in the loft itself, makes customers feel secure and could prevent an accident.

Insulation

We can also add additional insulation if your existing levels are too low. It makes sense – we are up there working and so customers can get two jobs done at the same time.

So, if this has got you thinking, then give us a call on 07712 327 889 or fill in a contact form here.

I live in Warwickshire and I’m interested in loft boarding, but do I need to insulate first?

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If the levels of insulation in your loft are not as you would like them then it is no problem – we are able to fit additional insulation as part of a loft boarding job!

Environmentally and financially it makes sense to increase the levels of insulation in your loft. With many of us working from home, we are spending more than ever on heating. We understand that you don’t want to have two separate firms in to sort out your loft, which is why we offer insulation fitting as an add-on to other loft jobs.  We source the insulation for you (so no handling those prickly fibres that get everywhere) and then fit it before boarding.

Did you know that the high quality boards we use actually increase the insulation levels in your home?

Should the insulation go above the level of the joists in the loft, we have a tried and tested system to sort that too. We build up the floor supports so that the level of the boarding is raised to accommodate and protect your new insulation.

To find out more contact us now. We provide a free, no obligation quote so you know what the final cost will be.

Loft Boarding Installation

Looking for storage in Warwickshire and Worcestershire? Why boarding the loft and fitting a loft ladder could save you money

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The cost for us to fit a quality loft ladder starts from £295. This might seem like a considerable outlay, but if you are thinking about paying for storage, then you really should consider it. Having a sturdy and easy to use loft ladder means that you will be able to safely access your loft.

Compared to storage facilities, a loft ladder could pay for itself in six months

Storage in a dedicated facility comes in at around £50 per month for a 5ft x 7ft area or £85 for 6ft x 10ft. Some facilities may cost less, but sting you with an access charge every time you want to put something in or out.  Based on the lower of these two figures, a fitted loft ladder would pay for itself in six months. Of course, you would also have the benefit of it for as long as you need.

Every m2 of loft boarding is less than a month’s storage

The same is true of loft boarding.  Every job is different, but as a guide you could think about paying £35 per square metre with Stu’s Loft Ladders.  So, you could look at it, that every square metre is less than the cost of one month in storage. You could board an area of 10m2 and fit a ladder for around £650 total and, compared to the cheapest storage costs, break even in a year. To boot, you will have gained more storage space at home than that cost would have bought elsewhere with all the extra convenience.

Boarding the loft could add value to your home

Boarding the loft could add value to your home. As a job that many homebuyers think of doing, having a loft that is already boarded could help your home to stand out for practical-minded house viewers.

Unless you are storing large items such as bulky furniture, boarding the loft is a great alternative to paid-for storage. Think about it. Your loft is secure and you can access items whenever you need them. You can also store them indefinitely without the costs racking up as they would in a storage facility.

Take a look at our services page to find out more.

What to look for in a loft improvement firm in the West Midlands

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Prior to fitting a loft ladder or boarding a loft, we always provide a job-specific quote, either in person or from photos. We like to make sure that every quote is accurate and that customers have considered all the options. Nine times out of ten the customer awards us the job. During Covid we are finding that there are more firms offering loft improvement services – in difficult times, tradespeople diversify! Customers should beware and know what they are getting for their money, so we’ve drawn up a handy checklist of what to look for when choosing a tradesperson for a loft job.

Recommendation, recommendation, recommendation

We are not going to teach you to suck eggs – we all know that a recommendation is best. But we are also all open to being swayed by the idea of a bargain. Not all loft contractors are the same. Make sure you get a solid recommendation. Really you should be hearing the same name come up from several sources.

If no-one in your network can make a recommendation, then online local groups, such as Facebook’s Stratford Forum, Redditch Recommendations or the Bidford Forum are a good place to ask. Again, see if the same name comes up a few times. Check out your potential firm’s Facebook page – take a look at the number of customer reviews and how recent and regular they are. Also check that the firm’s own posts are accompanied by photos showing real life installations.

Ask questions

Talk to potential contractors and ask questions. They should be happy to answer them and to tailor the job to your home. You might not need a heavy duty timber ladder if you are storing smaller items. You might not need to board all of the loft. A good contractor will suggest what is right for you and your budget.

You don’t want to end up employing a cowboy!

Loft firm checklist

  • Are they experienced in lofts and carpentry – not all lofts are the same and contractors need to be able to do more than fit a standard kit
  • How long have they worked in your area and where are they based? You don’t want to go with someone who is intensively targeting your town for a period and then is gone.
  • Where do they source their loft ladders from? We use tried and tested ladders from a trade only supplier. We know they are top quality because we’ve fitted them on hundreds of jobs.
  • Is the price they quote what you will pay? Check that it includes all materials and VAT with no hidden extras.
  • Ask to see photos of recent jobs or if they can give you the details of a recent customer who is happy to talk to you.

Oh and did we mention recommendations!

Live in Warwickshire or Worcestershire? What to expect when we board your loft

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Ever thought about boarding your loft, but thought it would be too much hassle? All that dust and disruption, you may have thought. Tradespeople walking mess through the house as the job drags on. If that was your mental image then read on to see that the reality is very different – hardly any disruption or mess and the whole job is normally done in less than a day!

Keeping customers safe during Covid

Now more than ever, you may be nervous about having people in your home. We want to reassure customers that we are following guidelines to keep you as safe as possible. That means wearing masks when we are not in the loft space, hand sanitising before we come into your home and taking away any waste materials and wiping surfaces when we leave. We also recommend opening windows on the floor with the loft access. We are always respectful that it is your home and you need to feel comfortable.

Will you need to see the loft before the job?

Ideally, yes. The price we give you is the price you will pay. As every loft is different we arrange a brief visit before we quote to make sure that it is accurate. This also means that we can make suggestions to help you make the most of the loft space. Perhaps you assumed a wooden ladder would be best, but there is not sufficient space. We can recommend telescopic loft ladders that are strong and easy to use. Or you might find the loft access point tricky, but not have realised that is is a relatively simple job for us to move it altogether.

When will you be able to start the job?

We are a small, family-run business and so we can be flexible around your needs. Generally speaking, we can book most jobs in within a few weeks on a day to suit your schedule.

How long will the job take?

Of course, every job is unique, but we have been doing this for a decade and find that 95% of the jobs we do can be completed within the day. Normally we are done by afternoon leaving you free to start storing items in your newly accessible loft space. There is always the exception and, if you have a very large loft area to board, then we may have to come back the next morning – it will be the next morning as we only do one job at a time.

How much mess will there be?

If we are boarding the loft then nearly all of the work is done in that space, including cutting the boards so that there is little disruption to your living space. If we are fitting a ladder, then we will work around the loft access but this creates no mess. If we are enlarging or moving the loft hatch then there is a little more involved, but we always put down dust sheets that protect your floors. Rest assured we see cleaning up as part of the job. Once recent customer commented that her husband didn’t even notice that we had been there until she pointed out that the loft hatch had changed. But then if we are fitting a new loft hatch, we even paint around it so that it looks as if it was always there!