Putting flooring down in loft etc - specialist loft company or handyman?

[Aridane]

Dull thread alert!

Looking to get flooring put down in loft and one of those pull down ladders installed. (Plus for the partially obscured lightning to cast more than a dim glow).

Would you go to a specialist loft company or just regular handymen?

handyman.

I would think of loft companies only for actual loft conversions surely?

You can get people who specialise in supply and fit of loft ladders and they will also board out. I used one and was very reasonable.

Barbar - can I ask how much you paid?

Do you just mean putting down the chipboard panels for loft floors so you can use it for storage? That part is ridiculously easy. I just did it myself.

If you want lighting changed then get a proper electrician for that part. You don't really want your house burning down because of dodgy wiring.

Mine already had a ladder, but it's not particularly complex to fit unless you need a bigger hatch cut away?

Yes do it yourself. We did and it was easy. Boarded area and ladder, came to about £130. Saves the £.

I can’t remember how much it cost but it was not much more than cost of materials as only took a couple of hours.

Ha ha - not doing it myself - though thanks for the vote of confidence!

Yes, it’s putting boarding down to enable loft to be used for storage (currently just joists and potential for stepping through ceiling).

Good point about whether hatch needs to be further cut away

We are definitely not big DIYers, but we did it ourselves.
After all, no-one is going to see it - wouldn't matter if something weren't quite straight, or there were a gap at the edge or something.

While you are there, put loads of insulation in before you put the boards down.
That is messy - wear gloves and a mask and goggles if you don't wear glasses

What can make it difficult though is getting the boards up through your loft hatch - mind, if the hatch isn't very big then you will find it difficult to use for storage.

You can board straight onto joists over existing insulation. Or get stilts, about 6 inches high so you can get extra insulation under. Depends on what you will store in the loft. Very thick insulation will mean your lift will be very cold

Will speak both with a handyman and also ladder supplier & fitter company to get quotes from both.

Will ignore all the banners on loft conversion that are sprouting up in the neighbourhood by houses with scaffolding and skips

Last post was before I saw the more recent one!