Bidford loft boarding creates spacious storage

A picture speaks a thousand words, at least it does when it comes to loft boarding. Most customers come to us through word of mouth, however, they still want to see photos of recent work so that they can see for themselves the professional finish we create.

If you haven’t checked out our Facebook page, take a look. We regularly post photos from recent jobs that show the amount of storage you can create through loft boarding.

One such recent job was at a property in Bidford on Avon where we boarded the loft for one happy customer. As you can see in the photos, the finished boarding created a spacious area for storage.

For this particular job, we combined boarding with a top quality timber loft ladder. Top of our loft ladder range, the timber ladder provides sturdy wide treads, ideal if you want peace of mind going up to the loft or if you will be carrying heavier items. The timber ladders we supply still offer easy folding and are simple to use and store away.

Our wooden loft ladders also come with a loft hatch up to 1.2m long, which makes taking bulkier items up and down a doddle. No more squeezing through a loft hatch that is too small!

For further details, you can email us at stuart@stusloftladders.co.uk

Top tips for protecting pipes in the loft for our customers in Warwickshire and Worcestershire

As the weather turns colder, you may be concerned about pipes freezing in your loft.

As people who spend a lot of time in lofts, boarding them and fitting ladders, we have picked up a few tips over the years for protecting your home from burst pipes up there.

  • Get up to the loft and check the pipes. Look for any drips at the joins to spot a burst or leak before the water does any damage.
  • Make sure that any pipes in the loft are lagged. Circular pipe lagging is easy to fit – the foam sleeves can be bought at the right diameter and simply slipped over pipes. Many even feature an adhesive strip so that they self-seal once in position. Your local DIY store or plumbing merchant will be able to advise.
  • You will also need to insulate the top and sides of any water tanks. However, think twice about insulating the bottom of a tank, as you don’t want to prevent the warming action of hot air from the heated rooms below.
  • Finally, when the temperature really drops outside, opening your loft hatch can help heat to circulate around any pipes located above.

Stu’s Loft Ladders are experienced in fitting loft ladders and boarding lofts. We have an excellent local reputation and work in a radius of approximately 20 miles from our base near Studley in Warwickshire. Email us now at stuart@stusloftladders.co.uk or take a look at our Facebook page for examples of work and customer recommendations.

Thinking of fitting solar panels with a battery in Warwickshire and Worcestershire? Why you’ll need loft boarding and good loft access

Having solar PV panels fitted used to be a rarity, but these days it is a common step for people wanting to bring down their energy bills and take a positive step in tackling climate change. Increasing numbers of households are pairing a solar PV system with battery storage so that they can harness green energy during the day and power their homes in the evening.

If you are planning to house the system’s inverter or battery in your loft, it is essential that you ensure safe and easy loft access. A job this week by our team in Bidford-On-Avon, Warwickshire, illustrated this perfectly.

Loft boarding for Solar PV battery in Bidford-On-Avon

The customer was having solar PV panels installed on the roof of his 3-bedroom semi-detached property. With a plan to store excess energy via a battery in the loft, he needed to ensure a safe and stable walkway for taking meter readings and servicing the system. He booked Stu’s Loft Ladders to board the loft, ahead of installation to ensure that the job could be carried out safely. 

Before we boarded the loft

Creating a larger loft opening

As a further requirement, we were asked to move the existing loft hatch, which was too small to accommodate the battery. We boarded and plastered up the existing hatch and created a new, larger loft opening in one of the bedrooms.

Strengthening the loft structure

Concerned about the weight of the battery, the customer also requested that we increase the load bearing capacity in the loft, which we did by adding timbers to strengthen the structure. 

“If you are thinking about solar PV systems, then you will need to ensure good loft access, with a stable walkway and a fixed ladder,” explains Stuart Dyson of Stu’s Loft Ladders. “It is not a large cost compared to the system itself, but one that people need to factor in when thinking about the total project cost. You may also need to look at enlarging the loft opening itself.”

For advice and a no-obligation quote, contact us now through the website or call 07712 327889.