Welcome to Ahead Loft Ladders

Any solid boards fitted to a loft should have at least a 50mm gap above your insulation.

This prevents the material from ‘bridging’ the gap and allowing condensation to form.

No, you should try to retain as much ‘fluffiness’ and height as possible from your insulation.

This is because it is the air pockets between the fibres that provides the insulating barrier, not the fibre itself.

Installation time can vary depending on a number of factors:

• The type of ladder chosen (wood/metal/electric etc.)
• How easy the attic space is to access
• The condition and position of the loft hatch
• Whether electrical connection is required

In general, with no surprises during the process, we expect a standard loft ladder installation to take around 2-3 hours.

If alterations are required to the loft hatch size or electric wiring is required, this can extend the amount of time required.

In most cases this would not be something we would consider. There are a number of reasons for this:

• A lot of cheap online electrically operated ladders are of very low quality
• We cannot guarantee the fit, finish or safety of a ladder not purchased from one of our recommended suppliers
• Measuring and fitting an automatic loft ladder is a complicated process, and should be carried out by a professional before purchase
• Getting an unrecognised model to work with your loft hatch may be difficult or impossible

Safe access to your loft should be your priority, which is why the best approach is for Ahead Loft Ladders to visit your property and provide a no-obligation quote.

UK building regulations require loft insulation to have a total depth of 270mm for mineral wool (soft insulation). This is to ensure it achieves the recommended U-value* of 0.16 W/m²K.

High-performance insulation boards like PIR require less thickness (120-170mm) to meet the same U-value.

Insulation must not be placed right up to the eaves. Instead, leave a clear 50 mm air gap to allow adequate airflow and prevent damp retention.

*The U-value is a measure of how fast heat escapes through a part of the building. Lower numbers mean better heat retention.

Loft boarding is not intended to provide a suitable living space, its main purpose is to allow for increased storage space.

To use your loft as an extra room you will need to get a loft conversion. This takes a lot more planning, to take into account things like:

• Floor load capacity increase
• Repositioning of rafters
• Increased headroom
• Full stair-based access
• Loft window installation
• Potential fire exit requirements
• Wiring changes or additions
• Loft insulation improvements