Loft Boarding in Warwickshire and Worcestershire – why minimalism isn’t the only option for a calmer home

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Minimalism is all the rage. From celebrity decluttering shows to You Tube channels dedicated to taking control of our homes, it’s easy to feel that we need to live with clear, polished surfaces and no attachment to material objects. 

We get the feeling that the people making some of this content don’t have to deal with the issues many of our customers do, like several generations living under one roof, or partners with hobbies that require mounds of equipment. Not everybody wants to get rid of photos and books that represent different stages of their lives. 

Improving your loft might be the simplest solution

We offer the simplest solution and our customers love us for it. Tidy your stuff into boxes and put it in the loft. No drama, no big decisions. If you decide you need the snow shoes or limited edition picture disk or want to rifle through your photos to find that one shot of you ten years ago for social media then you can go up to the loft and retrieve them.

Loft boarding makes retrieving items easy

The secret is making retrieving those items as easy as possible.  You don’t want to be hunting in the shed for a step ladder and then balancing on the joists whilst going though the boxes. You need to be able to pull down the ladder in one easy motion and organise and find items on stable and secure boarding. 

So next time you read about creating the perfect calm home, why not look up and think about all that space above your head and then call in the experts. Maybe you don’t need a total clear out, you might just need to think about how you store the things you own.

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. 

We help Warwickshire and Worcestershire homeowners reclaim space with loft improvements

Posted by Stu's Loft Ladders editorial team on

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.

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.

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.

Wooden Loft Ladders proving popular in Warwickshire and Worcestershire

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Five years ago our customers were shying away from wooden ladders, preferring the more cost-effective aluminium option.  Recently this has changed, so that in 2019 we have been installing more wooden loft ladders than any other kind. This shift in customer choices led us to wonder,  why the change?

In uncertain times we all know that people favour staying put and investing in what they have rather than moving house. In what has been a turbulent 2019 this must surely be a factor in people committing to top of the range ladders.

Add to this the fact that homes are getting smaller, particularly when you compare the living space in new build homes today with that of previous decades.

Whatever period of house we live in, we all have so much more stuff.  Most customers who contact us want to clear their loft to create more storage space and streamline their living spaces.

For many people this concerns items that they only use at particular times of the year or equipment for occasional hobbies. Some customers like to swap over their winter and summer clothes to create wardrobe space. When it comes to carrying heavy items up to a loft people prefer the sturdiest timber ladders.

Wooden Loft Ladder in Warwickshire

This was the case at a recent installation in the Bridgetown area of Stratford-upon-Avon, where we boarded the loft of a detached 1970’s family home. At 35m2, this was a larger than average installation taking two days in place of the usual one.

Storage space at a premium in Stratford

The customer planned to  move items from both the garage and bedrooms freeing up valuable space in the home – at a premium with three children. The family enjoys camping in the summer along with all the equipment involved and planned to store items in the loft.

In order to comfortably and safely take larger items up to the loft, their preference was for a wooden ladder.

Timber loft hatch

To further ensure easy access, we enlarged the loft opening fitting a new timber hatch.

The customers were delighted and as soon as we finished were planning to spend the weekend de-cluttering and creating more space in their home.

“On average a wooden loft ladder costs £180 more than an aluminium option,” commented Stuart Dyson, owner of Stu’s Loft Ladders. “Whilst there are jobs where a lightweight aluminium or telescopic ladder are the best option, many customers, particularly those with larger loft areas, are choosing wooden. Fitting a loft ladder is something that you will most likely only do once whilst you live in a property and so people want the quality and strength of timber.”

We are always happy to advise on the best loft ladder for your home and to provide a no-obligation quote. Call us on 07712 327 889 or message us.