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.

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.

For most loft board installation jobs, we can be finished in 1-2 days.

Some boarding projects may take longer, if we have to carry out additional tasks such as:

• Removing old boards
• Relocation of wiring
• Widenening loft hatch
• Adding insulation
• Installing loft windows
• Clearing obstacles

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.

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.

No, it is important not to add floorboards right up to the edge of your loft space. You should stop at least 250mm from the corners.

This is because lofts get their ventilation from the soffits at the eaves, so blocking this area will restrict airflow and promote damp.

The far corners are also not particularly usable (unless you own a large amount of triangular shaped items!).

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

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.

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.