How to make a loft access bigger?

Question

Hi, we have a loft but the access is only 2' x 2' so we can't get a lot up there though it is a very large space. We were going to board it but the space is too small even to get the boards up!! My husband is very handy but we are not sure where to start with making it bigger, can anyone give any tips or recommend anyone that can do this type of job?

Can we just buy a new hatch and cut it or is there a specialist way or requirements etc

Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

If you are going to use it regularly buy a new timber hatch and combined folding loft ladder, about £125 from screwfix delivered. The hatch surround is already formed and is around 1200mm 4 feet in length, easy to get anything up there then. Could fit yourself if handy, a joiner fitted mine in 2 hours with me helping by holding and passing things.

Answer 2

First of all it should matter how the current opening was fabricated, and what support exists above the ceiling. One might assume that the rafters/beams/joists are at 24 inch centers, and the "door" is between 2 of them? You should know where load bearing walls might be, adjacent to the opening, and not disrupt the structure of those support beams above.

   To add a larger door, you'd have to cut the opening, add supports between the beams to support the new doorway/ladder/stair unit.

   It may still be that you won't be able to manage full size sheets of anything to that space, but to add a stair unit should be done if you ever expect to use the space to your best advantage.

  You may find examples and descriptions in the link. I just did a general search.

Steven Wolf

just my two "sense"

http://search.yahoo.com/search?search=In...

Answer 3

Exactly what my mum and da were talking about yesterday!! - to make it bigger you could have 2 of those box windows that stick out? One o neither side - that gives u more space.

Answer 4

Look how the small hatch is constructed and do the very same for the bigger one. no problem. and simple to do.