Loft door help needed

Smeggy

I much prefer the idea of having someone else fit it, and it isn't that much more than some ladders cost. I'm in the Midlands, do they cover that area do you know?

I'll contact them tomorrow and find out anyway, but if anyone knows the answer in the meantime please let me know.

Ectophile

If I had spotted the problem earlier, it would have been far simpler.

Leaving out all the faffing about, here's what I ended up doing. I'm assuming that it's the usual type of "push up and slide" loft hatch where there are timber mouldings around the opening, like those around a door frame, and the loft hatch just sits on top of them.

1. Cut down the loft hatch so that it can drop through the gap with a little bit of clearance. Remember the saying "measure twice, cut once".
2. If the hatch is made of something thin and wobbly, make up a frame on the back, using softwood battens, to make it sufficiently rigid.
3. Fix new softwood battens on three sides on top of the mouldings where the hatch used to sit, so that if you push the loft hatch into the hole, it now stops when it hits them.
4. Put the hinges on the fourth side. You should now have a hatch that opens and closes on the hinges.
5. Fit the catch according to the instructions. You should now have a hatch that stays closed.
6. Add foam or rubber insulation strips around all 4 edges to keep the heat in. Put some insulation on the back of the hatch for the same reason.
7. Paint everything (that's visible from the room) so it looks nice.
8. Job done.

dodgydl

[/QUOTE] Easy to get a made to measure hatch:

http://www.jupiterblue.co.uk/loft-hatch-range-c2/made-to-measure-loft-hatches-c10

Why not have a go at converting, and then if that doesn't work get a custom one? Only thing I will say is fitting a manrose efficient one did make a noticeable difference temperature wise to our hallway.[/QUOTE]


I recently installed a loft ladder and contemplated the idea of converting my existing hatch. But in the end I chose to have one custom made and used Jupiter Blue (it was more a time and ease thing for me rather than cost).
It made it so easy. Gave them the opening measurements over the phone, specified trim size I required, picked a lock and after about a week it was being delivered. Pushed it into the opening and fitted the screws supplied and it was done within about 20 minutes. The lock and trim comes pre fitted so didnt even have to fit that.

JP08

One thing to add. Check where your door drops down to. In our house I did the opposite to you - made the hatch a upwards opening one (or rather push up one side and slide - can still use the pull down loft ladder then). Why - because when the hatch was down you couldn't open the bedroom door - hatch is in second bedroom - which makes it a pain to put into the loft anything you'd forgotten to put in the bedroom first place.

Oh - and an important one. Put a knob on the top of the door before you do anything else - it's a real pain if you test fit the shut from the loft side if you haven't done this first ...