Spring means time to look up with loft storage in Warwickshire and Worcestershire

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Spring is on the way! With lock down measures set to ease over the coming months and, hopefully, not long until refuse and recycling centres start opening again, it’s the perfect time to have a clear out. If you are tackling a project like sorting out the garage or shed, you will be left with some items that you want to keep, but don’t want to have hanging around taking up space.

With a loft ladder and boarding, you could keep those items in the loft and be able to easily retrieve them when you want them. So, if you only use your camping equipment or sun shade for the beach once a year (well we can dream during lockdown) then you could have them out of sight in a properly boarded loft. The same goes for sentimental items like photos that you will put into albums one day or CDs that you no longer play, but can’t part with.

Not boarding your loft = wasting space

We can’t say it enough – if you have a loft that is not boarded then you are wasting space in your home. At an average cost of £35 a square metre, boarding might cost less than you think and enable you to revolutionise the way you organise your home. All those items that you are keeping for occasional use or for “one day” won’t need to crowd your living areas. You could swap over your winter and summer clothes, vacuum packing them for protection. Think about how much nicer it would be to organise your wardrobe space and see what you have to wear. Our customers nearly always have plans for what they will store in their loft and it always amazes us from fishing gear to dance trophies. Really the possibilities depend on you.  

We are taking bookings now and provide no-obligation quotes for jobs throughout Warwickshire, Worcestershire and the West Midlands. Call us on 07712 327889.

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.

I live in Warwickshire and I’m interested in loft boarding, but do I need to insulate first?

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If the levels of insulation in your loft are not as you would like them then it is no problem – we are able to fit additional insulation as part of a loft boarding job!

Environmentally and financially it makes sense to increase the levels of insulation in your loft. With many of us working from home, we are spending more than ever on heating. We understand that you don’t want to have two separate firms in to sort out your loft, which is why we offer insulation fitting as an add-on to other loft jobs.  We source the insulation for you (so no handling those prickly fibres that get everywhere) and then fit it before boarding.

Did you know that the high quality boards we use actually increase the insulation levels in your home?

Should the insulation go above the level of the joists in the loft, we have a tried and tested system to sort that too. We build up the floor supports so that the level of the boarding is raised to accommodate and protect your new insulation.

To find out more contact us now. We provide a free, no obligation quote so you know what the final cost will be.

Loft Boarding Installation

Looking for storage in Warwickshire and Worcestershire? Why boarding the loft and fitting a loft ladder could save you money

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The cost for us to fit a quality loft ladder starts from £295. This might seem like a considerable outlay, but if you are thinking about paying for storage, then you really should consider it. Having a sturdy and easy to use loft ladder means that you will be able to safely access your loft.

Compared to storage facilities, a loft ladder could pay for itself in six months

Storage in a dedicated facility comes in at around £50 per month for a 5ft x 7ft area or £85 for 6ft x 10ft. Some facilities may cost less, but sting you with an access charge every time you want to put something in or out.  Based on the lower of these two figures, a fitted loft ladder would pay for itself in six months. Of course, you would also have the benefit of it for as long as you need.

Every m2 of loft boarding is less than a month’s storage

The same is true of loft boarding.  Every job is different, but as a guide you could think about paying £35 per square metre with Stu’s Loft Ladders.  So, you could look at it, that every square metre is less than the cost of one month in storage. You could board an area of 10m2 and fit a ladder for around £650 total and, compared to the cheapest storage costs, break even in a year. To boot, you will have gained more storage space at home than that cost would have bought elsewhere with all the extra convenience.

Boarding the loft could add value to your home

Boarding the loft could add value to your home. As a job that many homebuyers think of doing, having a loft that is already boarded could help your home to stand out for practical-minded house viewers.

Unless you are storing large items such as bulky furniture, boarding the loft is a great alternative to paid-for storage. Think about it. Your loft is secure and you can access items whenever you need them. You can also store them indefinitely without the costs racking up as they would in a storage facility.

Take a look at our services page to find out more.

“I live in the West Midlands and would like my loft boarded, but there’s so much insulation!”

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No problem, give us a call! You might think that you can’t board your loft because there are such thick layers of insulation, but we are used to seeing this and have a system that protects and even improves the thermal efficiency of your home.

Experienced carpenters

We raise the floor so there is no need to remove any of the loft insulation. This is particularly important if you are in a new build as you do not want to invalidate your new home warranty. We are experienced carpenters and can work around the nooks and crannies of your loft to create a raised boarding area that protects your insulation.

Boards improve thermal efficiency

We upgrade the floor supports to accommodate the insulation and then board over the top. Did you know that the boards we use actually help to conserve heat – another great reason to board your loft.

Contact us to find out more.

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!

Our challenge to Warwickshire homeowners: control the clutter by boarding your loft

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It’s not quite time for spring cleaning, but during this winter lockdown space is at a premium in our homes. Our houses have become multi-functional spaces. Bedrooms are offices and the kitchen is a classroom. When the living areas are cluttered and everyone is at home vying for a spot to work or follow a hobby, home might not feel like a haven.

Boarding the loft can offer a way to take control again. You could gain an extra 50% of floor space to use as storage. Make good use of that storage and it could transform your home.

We all think that we should have a good clear out, but it’s not always possible, whether for sentimental or practical reasons – there are some items that we use infrequently, but want to be able to lay our hands on quickly should the need arise. Proper storage is the alternative to either looking at items every day or getting rid of them completely.

Truss shelving for loft storage

Recently, we have been creating a lot of truss shelving during loft boarding jobs. A raised board that sits in the V of the trusses, the shelf creates a handy storage area. This allows our customers to keep boxes neatly at the sides, leaving plenty of floor room to access them. No more having to pick a path around a pile of precariously stacked boxes. It’s these details that make the difference between using storage effectively and not being able to find what you need, when you need it.

So control the clutter and take back your home.

Live in Warwickshire or Worcestershire? What to expect when we board your loft

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Ever thought about boarding your loft, but thought it would be too much hassle? All that dust and disruption, you may have thought. Tradespeople walking mess through the house as the job drags on. If that was your mental image then read on to see that the reality is very different – hardly any disruption or mess and the whole job is normally done in less than a day!

Keeping customers safe during Covid

Now more than ever, you may be nervous about having people in your home. We want to reassure customers that we are following guidelines to keep you as safe as possible. That means wearing masks when we are not in the loft space, hand sanitising before we come into your home and taking away any waste materials and wiping surfaces when we leave. We also recommend opening windows on the floor with the loft access. We are always respectful that it is your home and you need to feel comfortable.

Will you need to see the loft before the job?

Ideally, yes. The price we give you is the price you will pay. As every loft is different we arrange a brief visit before we quote to make sure that it is accurate. This also means that we can make suggestions to help you make the most of the loft space. Perhaps you assumed a wooden ladder would be best, but there is not sufficient space. We can recommend telescopic loft ladders that are strong and easy to use. Or you might find the loft access point tricky, but not have realised that is is a relatively simple job for us to move it altogether.

When will you be able to start the job?

We are a small, family-run business and so we can be flexible around your needs. Generally speaking, we can book most jobs in within a few weeks on a day to suit your schedule.

How long will the job take?

Of course, every job is unique, but we have been doing this for a decade and find that 95% of the jobs we do can be completed within the day. Normally we are done by afternoon leaving you free to start storing items in your newly accessible loft space. There is always the exception and, if you have a very large loft area to board, then we may have to come back the next morning – it will be the next morning as we only do one job at a time.

How much mess will there be?

If we are boarding the loft then nearly all of the work is done in that space, including cutting the boards so that there is little disruption to your living space. If we are fitting a ladder, then we will work around the loft access but this creates no mess. If we are enlarging or moving the loft hatch then there is a little more involved, but we always put down dust sheets that protect your floors. Rest assured we see cleaning up as part of the job. Once recent customer commented that her husband didn’t even notice that we had been there until she pointed out that the loft hatch had changed. But then if we are fitting a new loft hatch, we even paint around it so that it looks as if it was always there!

Customers in Warwickshire maximise loft storage with made-to-measure shelving

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Truss shelving – not something you’d think that you’d get excited about! You may be surprised because our customers throughout Warwickshire and Worcestershire do.

Bespoke loft storage solutions

Truss shelving is bespoke shelving that we create to fit on the webbing on the loft trusses. It is an optional extra for customers when we board their lofts and one that is very popular. The shelves create room for boxes in what would be wasted space. This means that the floor space is freed up. It is an important consideration to leave enough floor space otherwise accessing belongings becomes difficult. Often you don’t need to bring down an entre box and its useful to have room to comfortably browse and retrieve a particular item.

Skilled carpenters

We are carpenters by trade and so everything we do is bespoke. We don’t use ready-made kits that are one size fits all because houses don’t come in one size. What we leave customers with is tailored shelving that makes the most of the space they have – we all know how precious storage space is in our homes.

Contact us now to find out more.

Loft boarding transforms space in Bidford-On-Avon

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We love a before and after photo. If you follow us on Facebook, you will see that the photos we share on our page show the difference that loft boarding really makes. Over the course of a day, customers see one level of their home transform from wasted space to useable storage.

Wasted space to useable storage

These photos show far more vividly than we could ever describe the incredible change. In the scheme of home improvements, boarding the loft is relatively inexpensive, but the options it gives you are immense.

Loft insulation is marvelous stuff, but trust us, as people who spend their days working in enclosed environments with it, it is not something you want to get on your clothing or transport back down to your living areas.

New build in Bidford-On-Avon

This particular job was in a three-bedroom, semi-detached property in Bidford-On-Avon, Warwickshire, an area where we often work. It was a new-build home, so high levels of insulation – fantastic news for heat preservation, but not so good for storage.

If you look at the after photo you will see that we completely tidied the loft area. No more scratchy and unpleasant insulation fibres to worry about, only a neat area for boxes and room to move about whilst accessing them.

The result – another delighted customer!

Message us now for more information.