Most of us don’t use our attics enough. They sit at the top of our homes and the only time we go up there is when the Christmas trimmings need bringing down or we want to store something we don’t need but don’t really want to get rid of. Attics are great spaces and we should all be using them just a little bit more.

Yes, you might well be thinking of converting that space into another room for the house, but a full loft conversion costs a lot of money. If you don’t have the finances, then installing loft boards and using the space for more storage makes a lot of sense. It gives you greater flexibility, especially if you have a busy household where possessions seem to accrue and fill the everyday space you live in.

Fed Up with Getting Your Loft Ladder from the Shed?

One of the reasons for not using the attic enough is that many people don’t have a dedicated loft ladder that provides easy and quick access. When we want to store something, we have to run down to the shed and get a ladder, drag it up the stairs, push up the loft door and haul ourselves up into this space. If we’re trying to lift awkward bits of furniture or boxes up there it can be pretty difficult. Finding a space in the back bedroom is much less hassle – until the room fills up and you find yourself short of space.

Installing a proper loft ladder makes sense and could get you using and thinking about that valuable space a lot more.

• It gives you easy access when you want it.
• It makes handling awkward objects for storage easier.
• It adds to the value of your home.
• It gets stored out of the way in your attic when you aren’t using it.
• You can opt for something simply functional or a design with a little more class.

Installing a Loft Ladder

A lot will depend on what size opening you have if you want to put in a dedicated loft ladder. In older houses this tends to be smaller but you also have to take into account the landing area where the ladder will sit when it is extended. Much will also depend on whether you have a sliding ladder, a fixed one or a telescopic one. Newer buildings usually, though not always, have a bigger opening and provide an easier installation.

You should also consider the actual space that is in the loft and how your ladder fits into it when retracted. Some houses have plenty of roof space while others have a low roof that will limit the kind of loft ladder you can install. If this is the case, a concertina or telescopic loft ladder is a much better option.

Unless you are a competent DIY enthusiast, it is always best to get someone qualified to install your loft ladder. It’s a fairly straightforward job in most circumstances and should take no more than half a day to a day and the extra cost is worth it.