Welcome to Ahead Loft Ladders

Not all lofts can have a tilting roof window fitted. You have to satisfy the following criteria:

• Your roof must be pitched, with an angle between 30 and 60 degrees
• The height in from the loft floor to the ridge (peak) must be at least 2.2m
• The roof must be in good enough condition to support any alterations
• Flats, listed buildings or those in a conservation area may need additional planning

If you’re still unsure, a no-obligation survey can be carried out at a time that suits you.

This is a technique known as a ‘warm loft’, where the entire space is insulated to effectively become part of the house’s indoor heating area.

There are a few issues with this approach:

• Lofts require adequate ventilation to avoid damp issues, but a fully insulated loft does not allow for this without specialised systems to move the air and moisture
• A fully insulated loft will become part of your house’s ‘thermal envelope’, which will involve extra outlay, complication and heating costs
• Keeping your attic as a ‘cold loft’ ensures there a large insulating airgap between the upstairs of your house and the air outside
• It is false economy to create a ‘warm loft’ space just for storage – you would be better off putting your money towards a full loft conversion

In general we do not recommend a ‘warm loft’ unless you need the loft to become a habitable space.

Telescopic ladders are made of aluminium for the main tubes and steps, with a combination nylon, ABS plastic and rubber for the fittings and feet.

Concertina-style ladders are usually aluminium construction, however some heavy duty or commercial models use steel to allow for extra capacity.

For all types of high quality loft ladder, fixings and bolts should be steel.

For standard loft windows they are not required to be a fire escape, since the loft will not be used as a habitable room.

If you intend on getting a loft conversion in the future, the choice of Velux should be ‘top hung’ or ‘side hung’, rather than the usual centre-pivot models.

If you use your loft primarily for storage, then a loft ladder is not a legal requirement.

However, A ladder fitted by a professional company like Ahead Loft Ladders can make loft access far easier and safer. If you intend on accessing the loft space regularly, a dedicated ladder is a worthwhile investment.

For converted lofts that are used to increase living space, a permanent fixed staircase in required under UK Building Regulations.

Most automatic loft ladders are mains powered, so will not operate during a power outage. However there are some models that include a battery backup, suitable for 10-15 uses without external power.

A handful of models can also be operated manually if power is not available.

Speak to us about the available options and we can help select the right model for your needs.