Now we have a new loft hatch in place, we needed to trim the hatch to cover up raw edges in the UPVC cladding. Part L of the Building Regulations govern conservation of fuel and power or put another way, energy efficiency. As heat rises, in an uninsulated property 25% is lost through the roof. Insulating the loft helps reduce this but as the loft hatch is a similar area to a window it is important not to underestimate the role a well insulated and draught proofed loft hatch plays. It is pointless having a well insulated loft and a poorly performing loft hatch. Most reputable companies will be happy to provide you with photographs, and some may be able to organise visits so you can speak to customers about their experiences and see conversions that they've completed. Try to look at as many layout options for the design as you can, and be really clear in your mind what you want, how it will look and whether it will fit your requirements. Do you want a new bedroom with an ensuite? Do you need more space to work from home? Do you just need more space for storage?

Some types of loft extensions, such as mansard conversions, work by altering the pitch of the roof to create more space internally. Rafters Above, I took instructions from my Dad to cut as much as I could with my 2 in 1 reciprocating saw, inline with the opening we created. Drilling Through the Old Flat Roof With a more energy efficient home, you may get a higher energy efficiency certificate (EPC), which will add value to your property. Discuss this with your project manager right at the start, to set your expectations. Most good building firms will do their best to carry out as much work as possible inside the loft before 'breaking through' to the floor below to fit the stairs, which should help to minimise how long the disruption lasts. Building time It was quite embarrassing in front of my Dad as I've used a hand saw for years, but we all learn from our DIY mistakes! Ensuring You Have a Perfectly Square Loft HatchI then ensured it was flush with the bottom of the UPVC fascia cladding and screwed in the middle. Tip: By adding a screw in the middle, it allowed me to get level from either side easier. Discover how home insurers score for customer satisfaction with our guide to the best and worst home insurance . Loft jargon buster Builders finish You also should take into account that you may need a boiler update depending on your heating system, especially if you're adding a bathroom. In new properties Part L requires the overall U value of the loft is 0.35 W/m2K. Most of our loft hatch range meet or exceed this with some models having U values of 0.25 and even 0.15 (lower is better). U Value explained

A modern loft hatch provides easy access to the loft while maintaining draught proofing and insulation. In summer this helps keep warm air in the loft and cooler air in the rooms below, in winter the reverse happens, with cold air being kept in the loft and warm air staying where you want it, in the rooms below. Meanwhile, we eyeballed what was even as possible, ensuring nothing hung over the fascia's cut opening. Then add more screws around. Another screwing tip: avoid an impact driver here, or go easier, as the Youngman loft frame is much slimmer. Attaching the Hatch Door Then cut with the reciprocating saw again, but this time, from above and removed that section of roof.We knew what was above this area, as it was originally a flat roof with felt, simply joining the house to the garage. By 2019, my Dad built a pitched roof on top. These two hanging strips, attached to the hatch's wall then need to be screwed to the bottom of the folding ladder. *But before the fold starts. U-Value is a measure of heat loss through a structure. It reflects the rate at which heat transfers through 1 square metre of the structure where the temperature difference between the inner and outer faces is 1 degree Celsius. This is expressed as Watts per Metre Squared Kelvin. Work usually starts on the outside of your property. After that, the focus turns to the inside of your house and the flooring, insulation and stud walls. The final stage will deal with plastering, electrics and plumbing. Top tips for a smooth loft conversion If you have a baby or small child, having an open roof in mid-winter is far from ideal; you may want to consider planning your conversion for the warmer months.

We determined and marked where we wanted the loft ladder with hatch to be using a template. *We also made sure we weren't cutting through pipes and cables and replaced any structural timber supports. The answer to this is “it depends”, but potentially yes. The reason it depends is because there are numerous factors to take into account. To simplify things as much as possible here are three scenarios which may help you decide. Even a well-designed, space-saving staircase could take up a sizeable chunk of a room, so make sure you have space you're happy to lose and how it will affect your home's normal flow. It also needs to allow you to carry furniture up to that room.

Youngman Loft Ladder Installation

We pride ourselves on offering the widest range of loft hatches you'll find anywhere. Whether you're seeking a standard or a unique size, a basic model or one that's fire-rated for added safety, we've got you covered. It might surprise you that I've NEVER walked around an attic before, unless they're fixed loft hatch stairs and floorboarded. That is, until I learnt how to fit a loft ladder and hatch with my Dad a few months ago. That scene in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation when Chevy Chase's legs go through the ceiling really put me off. For life.

After taking the loft hatch support to the hole we created, we first needed to prop it with timber as it was hanging from the UPVC fascia. Shell conversions are part conversions, where the structural work is carried out by a building firm, but the rest is left to you.Also, where it meets, there's a matching part. I'm not sure if it was already in place, or you need to screw in yourself, but don't remember any difficulties. Cutting the Loft Ladders Usually, a shell conversion involves completing all structural timber work, creating a watertight internal loft space, fitting windows and doors, chipboard flooring, a staircase and any internal stud walls. Velux Most homes will come with an allowance for permitted development (PD), which means you can go ahead with your conversion without planning permission. Set their expectations by agreeing start and finish times, and letting them know when certain parts of the building process will happen and when different tradespeople and equipment will arrive.