Help with loft ladders and a new hatch

mookybargirl

I've done a quick search and nothing on this so hopefully I'm not repeating something that's already been asked.

We currently have a simple plyboard lift up and out loft hatch with no insulation and it's making the house freezing! We need to change this to a hinged drop down hatch and get some ladders fitted (currently no ladders attached). I want ladders that are extend down from just inside the hatch up in the loft - hope that makes sense :rolleyes:

Tried B&Q and no hatches, where do I buy them? Does anyone have experience of any of the companies online? Ideally I'd like the ladders and hatch from the same company/place but it's not essential.

Thanks in advance.

WestonDave

Screwfix do both - an insulated loft hatch for about £20 and a ladder for about £70.

rjm2k1

mookybargirl wrote:

I've done a quick search and nothing on this so hopefully I'm not repeating something that's already been asked.

We currently have a simple plyboard lift up and out loft hatch with no insulation and it's making the house freezing! We need to change this to a hinged drop down hatch and get some ladders fitted (currently no ladders attached). I want ladders that are extend down from just inside the hatch up in the loft - hope that makes sense :rolleyes:

Tried B&Q and no hatches, where do I buy them? Does anyone have experience of any of the companies online? Ideally I'd like the ladders and hatch from the same company/place but it's not essential.

Thanks in advance.

I got mine from B&Q last year, have you tried another branch, or asking in store?

Gray0103

mookybargirl wrote:

I've done a quick search and nothing on this so hopefully I'm not repeating something that's already been asked.

We currently have a simple plyboard lift up and out loft hatch with no insulation and it's making the house freezing! We need to change this to a hinged drop down hatch and get some ladders fitted (currently no ladders attached). I want ladders that are extend down from just inside the hatch up in the loft - hope that makes sense :rolleyes:

Tried B&Q and no hatches, where do I buy them? Does anyone have experience of any of the companies online? Ideally I'd like the ladders and hatch from the same company/place but it's not essential.

Thanks in advance.

Bit of MDF and you can make your own. (hatch not ladders)

peskie_pixie

I got my ladders from Wickes last year. They're the aluminium ones (which are light to pull down) in three sections. they were about £50+ (plus they were doing free packs of the chipboard loft flooring with it)

They're not that tricky to put up but you'll probably need 2 pairs of hands.

I fitted mine with help fom my dad (by the way i'm 5ft woman)

I made the door for the hatch myself. Mine was previously a lift up and out job, and the ply was the right thickness (needs to be about 3/4 inch) so cut it down and just had to buy the hinges and one of those spring release latches (B&Q) about £3.50.

I am assuming you already have the architrave around the opening?

Tips on doing it yourself here
http://www.diyfixit.co.uk/nflash/building/loftladder/loftladder.htm

Bibbitybob

We've just done this. My Dad cut us a piece of MDF for the hatch, and attached it with screws.

Our loft ladder from B&Q came with the little fixing for the hatch, and the pole to open it with.

And B&Q have BOGOF on loft insulation at the moment

TallGirl

I got mine from Screwfix, but my builder fitted it for me. Really nice best thing I have ever had done so easy to go up in the loft now. Can't belive it took me 11 years to get around to it. My has a nice fold down wodden ladder but it all came as part of a set ready to fit.

prettypennies

We fitted a new one this weekend. We got a pvc insulated drop down hatch from B&Q for £30 and an aluminium loft ladder from Wickes for £25.00. Our joine charged us £70 to fit it.

It makes hiding the Christmas pressies from the kids much easier!!

Mikeyorks

Got mine from Midland Ladders 18mths ago. Good service and it was easy to fit. Biggest job was finding a ladder that fitted the existing loft aperture - as didn't want to extend it. Midland were one of the few that met the criteria.

I just took the existing 'push out' loft fitting and converted it to drop down (saw and 2 hinges !) - the pole / latch etc come with the ladder.



http://www.midlandladders.net/10060/info.php?p=9&pno=0

OK_Sauce

I just cut down my plywood hatch to fit inside the opening and hinged it at one side. The ladder (from B & Q) came with a twist lock for the other side.