Loft Ladder and Altered Hatch in Troon
A loft ladder fitted in a home in Troon, South Ayrshire. The existing opening was too small for the hatch and ladder, so it was altered to suit, then finished with an architrave facing made up to fit over the hatch.
Loft ladders — Troon, South Ayrshire
Project overview
The job was to get a proper loft ladder and hatch into a house that already had loft access, but not an opening that suited. This is the usual situation rather than the exception — plenty of older loft openings were only ever meant for someone to put their head through, not to take a hatch and a ladder that folds down onto the landing.
Altering the opening
The existing opening had to be altered before anything could be fitted, so that both the hatch and the ladder would sit correctly. This is the part of a loft ladder job that people do not expect and that gets skipped by anyone in a hurry. Get it wrong and the hatch does not sit flat, the ladder fouls on the way down, or the whole thing ends up out of square with the ceiling and looks it from below.
An architrave facing made to fit
Rather than trying to scribe lengths of facing in place above head height, the architrave was made up as one piece beforehand and then fitted over the hatch. Working it up first means the mitres are cut and fixed on a flat surface instead of overhead on a ladder, so the corners close properly. It goes up in one, covers the join between the altered opening and the existing ceiling, and leaves a clean line all the way round.
Scope of works
- Loft ladder and hatch fitted
- Existing opening altered so the hatch and ladder would fit correctly
- Architrave facing made up in one piece and fitted over the hatch
- Hatch set square to the ceiling and closing flush
- Ladder checked for clear, smooth operation
The job
Photos from this project
The finished hatch and facing Seen from the landing Altering the opening Facing made up ready to fit Mitres cut and fixed on the flat
Common questions
Will a loft ladder fit my existing hatch?
Often not without alteration. Many older loft openings are smaller than the size a modern hatch and ladder need, so the opening has to be altered to suit. It is worth checking before buying a ladder kit.
Does fitting a loft ladder mean cutting into the ceiling?
Sometimes the opening needs altering, which means working around the existing ceiling and framing. It is straightforward when it is done properly and the finished work is made good so you would not know it had changed.
How much space do I need on the landing?
Enough clear floor for the ladder to come down and be stood on safely, with nothing in the way of the swing as it unfolds. It is one of the first things worth checking on a visit, along with which way the hatch should open.
Read more about our loft ladders across Ayrshire, see what else we do for homeowners in Troon, or see more completed projects.
From the customer
What they said afterwards
Having been after a loft ladder for a while, came across Tommy (McKee Joinery) by chance on Facebook. From first contact and visit through to quoting it was a very easy process. We had already purchased a ladder kit (let down by previous tradesman). Tommy agreed to fit the kit we had and carried out the fitting and finishing very professionally. Would happily recommend McKee Joinery and will use again without hesitation.