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.

Happy New Year to all our loft boarding and loft ladder customers in Warwickshire and Worcestershire

Posted by Stu's Loft Ladders editorial team on

What a year! From lockdown straight after last Christmas into the new normal, we have carried on working in line with government guidance.

Despite the ongoing pandemic, we have boarded hundreds of lofts and fitted many loft ladders during 2021.

Throughout it all, it has been our customers who have kept us going. From making us cups of tea whilst we work, to leaving us rave reviews on Facebook and this website, our customers throughout Warwickshire and Worcestershire always astonish us with their friendliness.

So, whatever 2022 holds for you, we wish you a happy and prosperous new year!

To book a no-obligation consultation with our experienced team, contact us now.

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/

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.

Meet the team – your independent firm for loft boarding and ladders in Warwickshire and Worcestershire

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When you are considering booking a company to carry out home improvements, you want to know as much about them as you can, so we thought we would give you the low down on the team behind Stu’s Loft Ladders.

My name is Stuart Dyson – the Stu behind the company name. I am a trained carpenter and I’ve always been self employed. Prior to forming Stu’s Loft Ladders, I worked for some of the big homebuilders.

Independent firm specialising in loft improvements

I set up Stu’s Loft Ladders ten years ago as I could see a need for an independent firm specialising in loft improvements. None of the new build homes I had worked on had their lofts boarded or had fitted ladders and, with most people needing storage space, I could see a gap in the market.

My mission was, and still is, to quickly complete loft boarding or ladder fitting using all my carpentry skills and to do so with the best customer service and a smile on my face.

We source the best trade loft ladders

We source the best trade ladders, so that customers can be assured that whichever ladder they choose it is a quality product.

We are a small team. I work with Ross, also very experienced in loft improvements, and together we carry out every job. When you book SLL, it is us you will see, from initial quote to the finished job – we do not subcontract as we want to oversee the quality ourselves.

Covering Bromsgrove to Evesham, Stratford-upon-Avon to Worcester

I have lived in Sambourne, between Redditch and Alcester, for 16 years – it is a handy base as we work boarding lofts from Bromsgrove to Evesham and Stratford-upon Avon and Warwick to Worcester.

My van is a regular sight around the Redditch area and beyond, so if you see us out and about, say hello .

You can contact us here to arrange a free, no-obligation quote.

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.

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!

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

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 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

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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.

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!