Welcome to Ahead Loft Ladders

It is always advisable to close your tilting roof windows when there is a risk of rain.

You may not get any water ingress during light rain if the window is only slightly open, but the best approach to maintain airflow is to use the in-built air vents.

The automatic and solar windows from Velux have the option to detect rain and automatically close.

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.

Most ladders open to an angle of between 60 and 80 degrees, relative to the floor.

For the best level of comfort, strength and safety, most of our ladders open to an angle between 70 and 75 degrees.

This is the approach many DIYers will take when boarding their lofts, however it is not a great approach if you have loft insulation.

Compressing insulation directly under loft boards will remove any air gap and lead to potential damp from condensation.

Since the warmth from your house will directly meet the cold loft air, moisture can easily condense on the boards and rafters, leading to a mouldy smell.

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.

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.