Will the boarded loft storage add value or not?

AdrianC

rik111 said:

Grabs39 said:

As above I've boarded sections of the loft of my current and previous house. Costs about £80 for some chipboard and screws and a day of my time.  A handyman with a bit of practice and some power tools (most of my time was spent hand-sawing boards to fit) should be able to do it in half that time.  My handyman charges £50/hour, so call it just under £300 all in.

It would make no difference to me when buying a house if it was boarded or not and it wouldn't add value unless it were a "proper" conversion with a staircase, insulation under the tiles etc.

Handy Man charges £50.00 an hour, £400.00 a day ? He must have some skills ! 

For four hundred quid a day, I'd be buying a jigsaw.
(Yes, a sliding mitre's probably the right thing, but a jiggy'll do it easier than a handsaw, and will do any fine detaily bits that a mitre won't)
https://www.screwfix.com/p/mac-allister-msjs600-600w-electric-jigsaw-220-240v/191gf will see you just fine, for the price of half an hour of the handyman's time.

GN2020

purplebutterfly said:

Depends on your area but in Lancashire they will fit boards, an enlarged hatch, drop down ladder and a light for around £350.  Shelving is extra.   

We're currently looking for a house and will need the loft boarded either before or as soon as we move in to use the loft as storage.  Any properties with existing boarding and/or ladders get bonus marks on our search 

Would you mind letting me know who this company is please? I’m after a loft boarding company in Lancs. 

dimbo61

https://www.wickes.co.uk/Youngman-Timberline-Loft-Ladder-Access-Kit/p/183453

This is a loft ladder kit from Wickes for £110. You make the loft hatch bigger and have a nice three section ladder which folds up neatly into the insulated loft hatch door.
You can get packs of loft boards and screw onto the timbers in the loft.

Doozergirl

dimbo61 said:

https://www.wickes.co.uk/Youngman-Timberline-Loft-Ladder-Access-Kit/p/183453

This is a loft ladder kit from Wickes for £110. You make the loft hatch bigger and have a nice three section ladder which folds up neatly into the insulated loft hatch door.
You can get packs of loft boards and screw onto the timbers in the loft.

I don't think that the majority of posters have grasped that this loft is on a level with existing rooms.  

A loft ladder isn't appropriate.  

Doozergirl

917700 said:

Thanks doozergirl

Your reply is very helpful. The loft boarding company said i can only have a hatch to access the space. If I install a proper door, this is be considered as a proper loft conversion and building regulations will be required 

I'm not entirely sure that's the case, because it won't be a habitable room - not putting windows in there, or heating, or using it as a habitable room.   It would be a loft with a door. 

What I would do, however, is strengthen the floor - add in new joists. 

Here's ours.  Not very glamourous, but it's nice as lofts go 🙂

AnotherJoe

tim_london said:

Loft boarding can get expensive if:

• The loft is insulated and is under guarantee.  There are rules about how you board the loft so you don't squash the loft material and void your warranty.  The lofting company probably have some kind of insurance scheme.
• The hatch door includes a built in ladder (one you can pull down and push back up using a stick).  The ladder costs £100-200.  So you're paying for that plus labour.
• You're also including lighting and power socket up there, so you're including the work of a qualified electrician.

But yes, the basic principle is planks of wood from B&Q and nailing.  Nowhere near as hard as conversion.

Screwing, unless you want to find bits of the ceiling on the bedroom floors when you're done..

boomer48

Hi There, Has anyone got any ideas re the aluminium treads on loft ladders being sharp, and how to cover them?