Welcome to Ahead Loft Ladders

In most circumstances removing your old insulation isn’t necessary and it can actually be quite beneficial to leave it.

Most insulation retains its thermal properties regardless of age, so leaving it in place will allow you to save money on the new insulating materials.

If your old insulation is in very poor condition – damp, contaminated with pest dirt or overly compressed – then replacement may be advisable.

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

Yes, if your loft requires really heavy duty access capacity, we can install a steel ladder with a capacity of 250kg.

However, for the majority of residential properties, an aluminium loft ladder offers more than enough load capacity for standard use.

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.

We always recommend at least 18mm thickness for most loft boards. This is suitable for nearly any item up that would be stored in a loft, up to 25kg per m².

22mm boards are also available if the gaps between your joists is over 400mm.

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.