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.

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

Loft Boarding Installation

Stratford homeowners ask can you board the loft in a new build? No problem, just call in an expert

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So, you’ve got the keys to your new build home and you are ready to start unpacking. Anyone who has ever moved into a new build property will know the excitement of thinking that they are the first people to ever live there. But, as you start unpacking, you realise that you are going to run out  of space and start thinking about the loft and whether you can use it to store belongings. You’ve heard something about not being able to board new lofts because of the levels of insulation. So what do you do?

Raising the floor before boarding protects your insulation

The answer is, you call in an expert. You can board the loft in a new build, but you need to be careful not to affect the levels of insulation or to invalidate your NHBC warranty. An experienced loft company, such as Stu’s Loft Ladders, will not board the loft in a new build without first upgrading the floor.  That means that we raise the level of the floor to accommodate all the insulation. What’s even better is that the boards we use will actually add further insulation, making your house even more energy efficient.

In a new build, we would definitely recommend that you use an experienced company who can use their carpentry skills to ensure that the insulation is protected. Whilst we are on the job, we can add a fixed ladder and enlarge the hatch from the standard one fitted to one that allows extra room for storing larger items.

Contact us now to arrange a no-obligation quote.

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.

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. 

Looking for loft ladders and loft boarding in the Midlands – Get ready with a September Sort Out

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For many of us, whether we have children in school or not, September always feels like a fresh start. The summer is over and it’s time to address those issues and jobs that have waited until it is business as usual. Although in 2020 nothing is “as usual,” students returning to school and workers back to the office, still provide a taste of normality and the chance to look ahead. 

September Sort Out is doing its annual rounds of promotion on social media and online – you can easily find a calendar to help you tackle the contents of your entire house in just 15 minutes a day over the course of the month. Having a “good sort out” is one of the most quoted reasons from our customers for boarding the loft and or fitting a fixed ladder. Nobody wants to board the loft to fill it immediately with junk they have been hoarding elsewhere. Usually they intend to store clearly labelled boxes with contents that have already with sorted and organised. We all start with good intentions!

Decluttering Top tips for loft storage

If you are having a September Sort Out. Here are our top tips:

  1. Tackle a small area first. Even if you want to declutter the whole house, starting with one bookcase or problem area is less daunting. You can do the rest in time. You don’t have to stick to a schedule, but breaking the task down into manageable chunks makes sense.
  2. Before you start, gather together five boxes or bags and label them: items to throw away, recycling, charity shop, for sale, and a final one for storage.
  3. Ask yourself, “When did I last use this item?” If it was more than a year ago, then think, “Why am I keeping it?” If it is for sentimental reasons then maybe you could display the item somewhere to enjoy it, rather than gathering dust in a pile. If it is an item that you may need in the future, but don’t use regularly, then it is probably perfect to store in the loft.
  4. Think about how you store items. A box with a lid will keep the items in good condition so that you don’t feel like you are just dumping them out of sight to gather mildew. For clothes, think about vacuum packing to keep them moth and dust free. Items sorted and grouped and even labelled will save time in the future – we all know this, but sometimes can’t be bothered or just want to get on with the job. Gathering the right storage boxes or bags in advance, together with labels and marker pens, means that it is much more likely to happen.
  5. Think about your loft access. If you don’t have a fixed ladder, then adding one can make an enormous difference to how easily and safely you can retrieve items. If you are balancing between ceiling joists when you go up to your loft, then it is definitely time to think about getting it boarded.

Working from home in Warwickshire or Worcestershire? Create dedicated space with loft storage

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Lockdown has changed the way we use our homes. Many of us are finding space to be the great luxury. Our homes had to serve us as gym, zoom backdrop and home office. 

Create a feeling of space with loft storage

If you are working from home, as many people continue to do, how do you create a feeling of space conducive to work? Or a backdrop for zoom meetings that doesn’t reveal overflowing shelves and piles of belongings that don’t have a proper home. The answer might be by looking up.

Loft boarding takes less than a day

Boarding the loft is a quick fix home improvement. It can be done in less than a day and doesn’t affect you while it is being done. It also leaves no mess – or not with the right contractor, such as Stu’s Loft Ladders. 

With the addition of a fixed ladder, storage possibilities open up. When the hassle of going up to the loft is removed, you suddenly have the option of storing items that you may want to access quickly, but don’t need every day or certainly that you don’t want to be in the background of any online work meetings or a virtual quiz.

See our services page for more details.

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.

Customers Ready to Embrace Loft Storage in Redditch and Studley

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Customer confidence grows for home improvements with social distancing

It’s good to be busy. For any small trader getting through lockdown has been hard and the return to a new normal has been a nervous time for both customer and business owner. We have been delighted to see trade pick up from the start of July as customers show confidence in having us work within their homes to improve loft storage.

“Over lockdown everyone has been stuck in their homes, with time to think about what they could improve,” commented Stuart Dyson, owner of Stu’s Loft Ladders. “Creating accessible storage in the loft through boarding and fitting a fixed ladder can be a small change, but one that allows homeowners to transform their living space. No more infrequently used items taking up valuable space in rooms and garages, instead they can be carried safely and easily up to the loft. Boarding also means an end to precarious balancing between joists.

“To start with trade was slow but steady; now customers are regaining confidence and want to get on with jobs.” 

Last week our team quoted on seven jobs, six of which are set to proceed. The legacy of lockdown is that customers want to think for longer before proceeding. In these strange times, we all want to be sure that we are doing the right thing. 

“Post-lockdown, people are definitely taking longer before they decide to proceed,” explained Stuart. “Normally we give customers a price when we visit and they make a decision whilst we are still there. If they say they want to think about it, it usually means a no, but that is not the case at the moment, as customers are calling back after a week and wanting to go ahead.

“We are able to reassure customers that we take social distancing very seriously and that the job is nearly always completed within the day.”

Loft boarding, ladder fitting and new hatch in Redditch 3-storey home

This week we have helped homeowners in Redditch to gain full access to their loft with the holy trinity of loft improvement: enlarged hatch, fixed ladder and boarding. In a modern property we enlarged the loft opening to fit a standard plastic surround, which leaves a neat finish on a landing where space is tight. The customer chose a lightweight, easy to operate, aluminum three-section ladder – again a great choice where space is limited.

Studley traditional semi-detached is perfect for loft storage

The enlarged loft hatch and as it was when we arrived

We also completed loft improvements in Studley in a 1930’s semi-detached with lath and plaster ceilings. This traditional style property is perfect for creating storage space as the triangular structure without additional trusses leaves a large area. In this case, we fitted a fixed ladder and loft hatch, leaving the customer the option of completing the boarding at a later date.

Having removed the old surround, we enlarged the hatch and fitted a fixed aluminium ladder

As we started by saying, it’s good to be busy. We’ve been delighted to receive four glowing reviews in two weeks on our Facebook page. For independent traders, the upside of customers homeworking is that they are at their computers ready to post reviews!