No loft hatch in Stratford-upon-Avon?

Posted by Brad on

In older properties, there may be no access point for the loft, which poses a problem if you would like to board your loft or fit a fixed ladder.

Indeed in houses built more than 150 years ago, it is common to find no loft opening. For customers in this situation, our team of trained carpenters can carefully assess where to create an opening so that it is convenient without compromising the roof structure.

Often older houses, particularly Victorian and Edwardian, have large loft areas with good head room which is ideal for storage and access. However, they also often have small loft hatches which can be inconvenient for storing large items. We regularly enlarge existing loft hatches for customers in this age of property.

Whilst we complete most jobs in one day, the installation shown above took two days as the customer wanted a large area boarded, plus the installation of a timber ladder and the creation of a loft hatch where there was none. The customer was delighted with all the new storage possibilities.

To find out more, call or text us on 07712 327 889 or email stuart@stusloftladders.co.uk

Can you board the loft of an older or period property? A popular question in Warwickshire and Worcestershire!

Posted by Brad on

New build to Victorian or even older, we have boarded properties from all these ages of construction. In fact, the oldest loft we have boarded was in a 300-year-old cottage for a customer who was delighted with the space we created for her.

Loft boarding must accommodate the quirks of an older property

Boarding an older property is not without its challenges. The older the property, the bigger the challenges, but they can all be overcome.

Visit a modern housing development and you will see rows of houses built to repeated designs. Older properties come in all shapes and sizes, with extensions and add-ons over the decades or centuries that have changed the shape of the roof space. Joists may be in awkward spaces and often there are water tanks, old pipes and other obstacles to work around. In these cases, boarding may take longer than usual as each board must be cut to accommodate the quirks and angles of the building.

Raised loft boarding can protect timbers and allow for increased insulation

Whilst owners of new-build properties are very cautious about any boarding method that might invalidate their NHBC warranty, owners of period properties should also think about protecting roof timbers. Condensation may be an issue, and we might suggest raising the level of the boarding to protect the timbers or allow for additional insulation. Insulation is important as older buildings may not be as heat efficient and existing insulation may not meet current regulations. When quoting, we would look at the head room in the loft. If this were an issue, and we needed to raise the boarding, we might advise sticking to boarding a central section.

Fitting a new loft hatch can radically improve heat retention

In an older property, the loft opening might not be in the right position, possibly under the shallowest part of the roof line.  We can move the loft opening entirely or change its orientation. In addition, fitting a new loft hatch can radically reduce draughts and improve heat retention on the floor below.

This is where you will get the benefit of employing a professional loft improvement company. We have been boarding lofts and fitting loft ladders for more than a decade in Warwickshire and Worcestershire, and in that time have boarded thousands of older and period properties. We are always happy to talk through the installation when quoting. Contact us now or visit our Facebook page to see photos of our recent work.