Why put up with a loft opening in the wrong place? We move loft hatches for homeowners in Worcestershire and Warwickshire

Posted by Stu's Loft Ladders editorial team on

There are enough annoying things to put up with in life, so why add one more to the list? If going up to the loft is a hassle due to the loft opening being in an inconvenient place, it is a problem that can be easily sorted by moving the loft hatch all together.

What can seem like a big job as a DIY project is actually something that Stu’s Loft Ladders undertakes regularly for customers when installing a loft ladder or boarding a loft.

Moving a loft hatch can be a relatively simple job and, when our team does it, there is no mess. In fact, before leaving we will paint around a loft opening, so that in many cases, you cannot tell that it was not there all along.

Maybe the options for relocating your loft hatch are limited and it needs to stay where it is. We can extend the opening to make it easier to use, or change its orientation so that the ladders descends in a more convenient spot.

Every home is different and we are more than happy to visit to advise on relocating a loft hatch or enlarging it. Give us a call on 07712 327889 or email stuart@stusloftladders.co.uk

Relocating a loft hatch – a guide for homeowners in Warwickshire and Worcestershire

Posted by Stu's Loft Ladders editorial team on

You don’t have to be stuck with a loft opening if its location doesn’t suit your needs. We routinely move loft hatches for customers as part of larger jobs when we install loft boarding or ladders.

So, what should you consider when relocating a loft hatch?

Avoid being close to stairs by changing the direction of the loft hatch

It sounds obvious, but we’ve seen plenty of older loft openings in dangerous spots over or very near to stairways. It is not just a question of having enough space at the bottom of the ladder – you really don’t want to be too near the stairs when exiting or entering the loft at height. If a landing is the only suitable spot for the loft opening, then there may be a simple solution in changing its orientation or making the hatch longer. This can make a big difference by allowing the ladder to run in another direction or at a different angle. 

Having a loft opening in a bedroom comes down to personal preference. If you have small children, then accessing the loft through their bedroom could be tricky past their bedtime. However, if you have a spare bedroom, and it is roomy enough to allow a loft ladder to come down unhindered by the furniture, then it could be ideal.

Bathrooms – this is not a popular option. Space tends to be at a premium in this room and if you have people in the household who hog the bathroom, waiting to gain access to the loft could be frustrating!

Consider head space when using loft ladders

Of course, you also need to consider the point at which the loft opening allows you to enter the loft space. We don’t recommend placing it too near an outside wall or you risk ascending under the eaves.

If you are unsure of what the options are in your home and how much space you will need to accommodate your choice of ladder, then we are happy to provide a no-obligation quote. Contact us now using our webform or on 07712 327889.

Looking to move your loft hatch in Stratford-upon-Avon? There’s no mess and dust with us

Posted by Stu's Loft Ladders editorial team on

One of the top reasons people often put off having a job done in their homes, even once they have the funds in place, is the worry about any mess and dust it might create.

We like to reassure anyone thinking about moving their loft opening or enlarging the loft hatch, that we take a particular pride in leaving our working area pristine.

Before and after photos from a job where we enlarged the loft opening and fitted a new hatch

What this means, is that we take away any debris and always use dust sheets to protect carpets. When cutting a new loft opening and plastering around the hatch, we make sure that there is no evidence of the work other than the new hatch itself. Take a look at this genuine customer Facebook review from a job last month,

Definitely recommend Stu & team. We had our old loft hatch in the bedroom boarded and painted like it was never there. They then relocated a new large loft hatch in to the hallway with new ladders and boarded the loft. We have plenty of space! Excellent job, reliable and so tidy. If you want a professional service these guys are it. 

This customer loved the fact that we painted the ceiling, so you could not tell where the old loft hatch had been. We’ve even had one customer tell us that her husband did not notice that the loft hatch had been enlarged for a few days because it looked like it had always been that way. This is exactly as it should be – you do not want to make a feature of your loft hatch – you want it to blend into the ceiling. So we won’t take offence if your visitors don’t notice our work!

To find out more contact us for a no-obligation consultation.

Enlarging the loft opening is no problem in Stratford-upon-Avon and Redditch

Posted by Stu's Loft Ladders editorial team on

It makes sense that the size of your loft opening will dictate the size of the items you can store up there.  What customers don’t always realise, until we enlighten them, is how easy it is to enlarge the loft opening.

New builds may have small hatch as standard

More often than not, modern house builders will install a small loft hatch as standard. In fact, we often enlarge the loft opening for customers in new builds. We can fit a new hatch with insulated surround and door either in maintenance-free plastic or, if you prefer a more traditional look, in timber.

Having a loft opening of 1 metre in length not only changes what you can store, but also how easy it is to carry any items up to the loft. The extra room gives you space to manoeuvre and the confidence that you won’t scrape your knuckles on the sides whilst carrying a heavy box.

Above shows the loft hatch before…
This is the neatly finished job with a larger hatch

We are skilled carpenters and we’ve been fitting loft hatches for more than a decade, so we can ensure that none of your ceiling joists are compromised.  As part of the quote, we will make good the plaster around the new loft hatch and paint around the hatch to ensure that it looks as if it was already there.

Loft hatch in the wrong place?

If the hatch is in the wrong place entirely, we can move it. Check out this review left earlier this month by a happy customer who asked us to move his loft opening.  You’ll notice that he was very pleased on the tidiness of the job!

Hatching loft improvement plans in the West Midlands

Posted by Stu's Loft Ladders editorial team on

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.