
Frequently asked questions
Loft safety is very important, accidents can happen and helping prevent them especially in lofts is very important. The most common accidents in lofts are falling through the ceiling and falling down the loft hatch opening.
In both cases we can help prevent this from happening, by installing good quality strong flooring in the areas you want to access and install a rail or balustrade around the opening of the hatch, to stop anyone from walking backwards or stumbling toward the loft hatch. It’s a long way down and could be quite nasty, so it’s worth considering installing a safety balustrade or railing.
This commonly asked question is difficult to answer and depends on individual needs. Attic stairs are available at varying specifications and prices to suit different requirements. Folding stairs can be made from different materials such as wood or metal, can be automatic or manual, and installed in rooms of different height.
The installation price also depends on the size of the ceiling hatch, varying between 55-70cm in width and 80-120cm in length. Installation of wooden folding stairs with insulated ceiling hatch, handle and plastic feet to protect floor panels or carpet takes a few steps.
The effort involves preparatory work to enlarge the hatch opening to the appropriate size, installing the hatch and stairs, and fitting decorative architraves that can be finished with either clear varnish or white paint upon request.
The price of a standard attic stairs installation refers to 60x120cm stairs and width between joists of up to 68cm. For a standard installation, the height of the room should be less than 280cm, no additional work, such as electrical installation, fire detectors or pipes work should be required, and the ceiling should be made from plasterboard.
For non standard installations, where there are other obstacles preventing the installation of standard 60x120cm wooden stairs, or if a hatch opening (old hatch) width is more than 71cm, it is recommended to use a larger 70x120cm stairs. Restricted space that prevents folding stairs is also a frequent issue. Other matters include structural obstacles on installation, such as bearing beams, steel beams, water tanks or gas pipes. For non-standard installations, MINI metal 4 section stairs with a box size of 60x80cm are a proven solution, so are TERMO 60x100cm wooden stairs
Conclusion:
Attic stairs can vary significantly in terms of price and specifications, as well as in the complexity and effort required to install them. Folding stairs are available in both wood and metal materials, can be manual or automatic, and can be installed in rooms of varying heights.
For a standard installation, the ceiling should be made from plasterboard, the width between joists should be up to 68cm, the height of the room should be below 280cm, and no additional work such as electrical installation, fire detectors or pipes should be required. The hatch opening should also typically be between 55-70cm in width and 80-120cm in length. Depending on the circumstances of the installation, larger wooden stairs of 70x120cm may be more suitable for non-standard installations that have obstacles such as bearing beams, steel beams, water tanks or gas pipes restricting space. For restrictive spaces that cannot fit folding stairs, MINI metal 4 section stairs with a box size of 60x80cm or TERMO 60x100cm wooden stairs are recommended solutions.
No, I will carry out a loft survey for you completely free of charge. You will then receive a detailed quotation in writing within 24 hours for your consideration. I make sure I itemise my quotations so you can see exactly what each part costs. There is no hard sell and no obligation for you to proceed.
A frequently asked inquiry is how much it would cost to floor an attic. A precise estimation cannot be provided without first viewing the site. We would be glad to give a quotation after taking the room's measurements. It is suggested that the customer roughly approximate the size of the floor and inform us of what they plan to use it for. Areas measuring 8-10m2 can be classified as small, 12.50-14.50m2 as medium, and 16m2 or bigger as large. An element that significantly affects the price of an attic floor is the thickness of the yellow or brown colored glass wool thermal insulation. In new constructions in which insulation have a thickness of 300mm or higher, it is essential to raise the attic's floor above the bearing joists as per building regulations which state that it should have a minimum thickness of 175mm.
A common mistake when installing an attic floor is compressing the insulation and screwing boards to the beams. This results in condensation appearing after a time (via hot and cold air) which can eventually cause decay of joists and lead to costly repairs, including replacement of structural components. A foor can be raise d using plastic loft legs from B&O, Screwhx, Amazon, Ebay, or ready-made Loft Zone systems with included plæstic supponts and aluminum profiles. The simplest method to raise an attic floor is to construct a wooden sub-frame of additional joists, over the old floor level This durable and stable construction can be an alternative to the less stable plastic legs and more expensive solutions such as aluminum profles on supports.
It is worth remembering that mineral wool insulation loses its
thermal properties over time.
in buildings in which the insulation layer does not exceed
100mm (4 inches) it is worth considering a top up to the
recommended 300mm insulation level before a floor is placed
A foor level placed directly on the joists can look like a saving
on installation but could cost more in heating bills over the
long term
Statistically, houses with 270-300mm attic insulation reduce
heat loss leading to a £120-£150 saving per year, compared to
homes without the recommended insulation