Welcome to Ahead Loft Ladders

Yes, if your ladder is long enough then you can certainly use it to get into your loft space. However there a number of downsides:

• The ladder will need to be stored somewhere and retrieved every time you access the loft
• Ladders can be heavy and cumbersome to handle, risking scraping your walls and ceilings
• Regular ladders don’t always open to a suitable angle to allow comfortable use
• A ladder that isn’t long enough to fully reach the hatch could fall, leaving you trapped

For the best safety, convenience and comfort, a professionally installed loft ladder is worth the small investment.

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 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

You don’t usually need to apply for planning permission to put a Velux / Skylight / Rooflight window in your loft. As long as it doesn’t protrude more than 150mm from the existing roof surface, it falls under ‘permitted development rights’.

There are exceptions for listed buildings, or those in in conservation areas, national parks or areas of outstanding natural beauty.

You should also check with Building Regulations, as this is not the same as planning permission. This will ensure it is structurally safe to add windows to your property.

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.

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.