Warwickshire and Worcestershire loft improvement – How much of the loft should I board?

Posted by Stu's Loft Ladders editorial team on

 Some customers know straight away that they want to board out the entirety of their loft, preferring to maximise every inch for the storage possibilities. More often than not, these customers think along the lines of, “whilst I have the experts in, I might as well have the whole lot done.”

Other customers seek our advice on how much to board. Either, like most of us, they have budget constraints or a large loft where they might not need all the space accessible. 

Our answer involves posing another question first: how much you want to store? If it is just Christmas decorations and the odd box, then think about doing a portion of the loft nearest to the opening. One caveat is the need to consider the accessibility of items where they are up there. If you only board out a section large enough for the boxes you wish to store, you will make accessing them quite a chore. It might be better to continue the boards further under the eaves so that you can neatly line boxes up there with labels facing outwards. This means that you can then leave an area clear in the middle of your loft for moving about up when retrieving or storing items.

It’s not just what you do, it’s the way that you do it

It might not just be a case of how much you board, but also how you do it. To make the most of the space you have when boarding, the boards themselves should be cut to fit exactly around the loft struts. This can make a big difference to usability. 

Maximising loft storage space in Shipston upon Stour

The photo used here shows a recent job in Shipston upon Stour in Warwickshire. This was a large loft area and the customer wanted to neaten the loft up and make the most of the full area. All our team are skilled carpenters and so we fitted the boards around the roof supports. In doing this it also made it more unlikely that boxes would pick up fibres from the insulation that would then be transferred into the house. A much neater job all round and one that left the customer very happy. 

This photo shows the area before which was totally unusable.

And this was the finished job…

So, think about the three main points

  • What is my budget?
  • What do I want to store?
  • Is that likely to change? eg family members moving back home. 
  • Could I board half of the loft but make the most of that space by using the eaves ?

Stu’s Loft Ladders are always happy to advise. We prefer to visit to provide a full quote, but we are happy to look at a photo of your loft to advise on how much to board. Contact us by email stuart@stusloftladders.co.uk or  call on 07712 327 889

Warwickshire loft improvement – there’s still time before Christmas

Posted by Stu's Loft Ladders editorial team on

With six weeks to go, we are now on the official countdown to Christmas. For most of us that means the annual trip up to the loft to retrieve the decorations. If that idea fills you with dread then maybe you should think about how to improve loft access and there is still time.

We will be working right up to Christmas, helping homeowners make fetching boxes from the loft a stress-free operation.  If you don’t have a fixed loft ladder and use your loft for storage, then you really should think about getting one. We can provide and install a range of ladders to suit your budget. No need to fetch the wobbly step-ladder any more! 

Mess and disruption free

On our Frequently asked Questions page, you will see the question, “Is the process messy?” And in the run-up to Christmas who needs additional cause for stress and disruption? We pride ourselves on leaving loft improvement jobs tidy and clean. It’s one of the reasons why we receive such great customer reviews throughout Warwickshire and Worcestershire. We board most lofts and fit ladders in less than a day. With dust sheets down we leave you ready to get on with making the most of your loft.

So, with six weeks to go, give us a call on 07712 327889.