Welcome to Ahead Loft Ladders

Any solid boards fitted to a loft should have at least a 50mm gap above your insulation.

This prevents the material from ‘bridging’ the gap and allowing condensation to form.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.