How much does a loft hatch or ladder cost to fit in Gloucester?
Fitting a loft ladder or a bigger hatch? Post the job for free and it goes to local carpenters who cover your area. Only the carpenter who takes it on gets your contact details.
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Loft hatches and ladders
A proper loft ladder makes the loft far easier and safer to use than a stepladder balanced on the landing. The main types are folding, sliding and concertina ladders, and which one fits depends on the hatch size, the ceiling height and the space below for the ladder to swing down and land.
If the hatch is too small, it can often be made bigger. That usually means cutting through a ceiling joist and supporting the ends properly with new timber. In many newer houses the ceiling joists are part of the roof trusses, and those shouldn’t be cut or altered without advice from a structural engineer.
If your home was built or refurbished before 2000 and the ceiling has a textured coating such as Artex, it may contain asbestos. Mention it before any cutting, so it can be checked first.
A new hatch should be insulated and draught-sealed, or it lets heat straight out of the house. If you want the loft boarded too, the boards shouldn’t squash the insulation, which is why raised boarding systems are used. A light in the loft is electrical work.
Adding a ladder and boarding gives you storage. Turning the loft into a bedroom or office is a loft conversion, which needs building regulations approval.
What to include when you post
A few measurements help a carpenter suggest the right ladder.
- Photos of the hatch from below, and of the loft around it if you can
- The size of the hatch opening now
- The height from the landing floor to the ceiling
- Whether you want the hatch made bigger
- The type of ladder you’d like, if you know
- Whether you want boarding, a light or a handrail in the loft
- How old the house is and whether the ceiling is textured
- How deep the existing insulation is
- Space on the landing below the hatch, with a photo from the top of the stairs
Choosing a carpenter and what to ask
If the hatch is being enlarged, ask how they’ll support the joists they cut, and whether your roof has trusses. If it does, ask whether they’ll get an engineer’s advice before cutting anything.
A written quote should say which ladder is included, whether the new hatch is insulated and draught-sealed, and what making good around the opening involves. Filling, plastering and painting around a new hatch are often left out, so check. If you want boarding, ask what system they use and how it keeps the insulation from being squashed.
Ask who fits any light or socket in the loft. Make sure the ladder’s weight rating suits whoever will use it and what they’ll carry. Ask what guarantee they give on the ladder and the fitting.
Not quite the right job?
See every job on our Carpenter page, or post it anyway and describe it in your own words.
Before a tradesperson starts work
Registrations
Some work must be done by a registered professional. Work on a gas boiler, cooker or fire must be done by a Gas Safe registered engineer, which you can check on the Gas Safe Register.
Our business check
Limited companies are checked with Companies House and sole traders upload their insurance certificate. Trade registrations are confirmed by the tradesperson when they sign up.
Get the price in writing
Ask for a written quote that sets out the work and the price before anything starts. Your contract for the work is with the tradesperson.
Questions
What people tend to ask before booking this job. For anything specific to your home, ask the tradesperson who takes it on when they get in touch.
Usually, with the joists properly supported. If your ceiling joists are part of roof trusses, they shouldn't be cut without advice from a structural engineer.
Many carpenters can. Boards laid straight onto the joists squash the insulation, so raised boarding is common. Say how deep your insulation is.
Folding and sliding ladders are the most common. Concertina ladders suit tight spaces. The right choice depends on the hatch size, the ceiling height and the space on the landing below.
It might be. Textured coatings such as Artex in homes built or refurbished before 2000 may contain asbestos. Mention it before any cutting so it can be tested first.
A ladder and boarding give you storage. Using the loft as a bedroom or office is a loft conversion, and that needs building regulations approval.