Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Property/DIY

Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

Any idea of quote for builder/handy-man for loft ladder replacement..

6 replies

CaroBrown · 26/06/2019 09:33

Hi, I wonder if anyone could give me a rough idea/quote for a builder or handyman to replace a loft ladder at my parents house in Brentwood, Essex? It's currently got a metal ladder that has seized up/come loose, so would totally need replacing. It doesn't have to be a flashy ladder - just safe and easy to use. Also, is it a day's work? Does it need two people to do it?
Any steers gratefully received.
Many thanks
Caroline

OP posts:
PigletJohn · 26/06/2019 12:07

Ask around for personal recommendations of an experienced local carpenter. Properly done, there should be a substantial wooden trimmer across the joists to stiffen them and take the fixings, especially if one has been cut.

It should easily be finished within a day but some people will charge it as a day's work if they won't have time to get to another job afterwards. One person job.

Around £150 here but could be £200.

The wooden ladder that folds in half is more rigid in use than the lightweight aluminium ladders. Get one to suit your ceiling height. 2400 is common in modern or small houses, older houses may be 3m. Aluminium ones are more widely sold, cheaper, and lighter to carry out of the shop. Some have a sprung arm to help pull the ladder into place for stowage.

Grand houses with ceiling height exceeding 3m may need a special order ladder, and are harder to stow. It would be easier and cheaper to get an ordinary one-piece ladder of appropriate length and some kind of hooks at the top to keep it in place.

Have a couple of strong handholds at the top

Examples

www.wickes.co.uk/Products/Tools+Workwear/Ladders+Platforms/Loft-Ladders/c/1000447

www.screwfix.com/c/storage-ladders/loft-ladders/cat831470?cm_sp=managedredirect--storageladders--loftladders

If you are weedy, or not tall, or the ceiling is high, a light one is easier to push up and pull down, using a pole with a hook (provided)

Some come with a hatch, or the carpenter can make one and add architrave for neatness, and an edge strip to prevent draughts. Carpenters like making things out of wood.

if the hatch is separate and hinges down, I strongly recommend a Fanlight Catch that you can release with the pole. It is better than the flimsy touch latch usually supplied. You can get them in a silver finish off ebay which I think looks better than brass, or you could paint it white to match the ceiling (preferably before fitting).

WishIwas19again · 27/06/2019 12:10

We've had this done twice, both times it was a specialist company (one guy!) Who just does this every day. Both times we've need hatch widening then making good the plaster, opted for a better quality wooden ladder (we use ours every day for various bits) and had some boarding out done at same time. Been £400-450 each time, all in

WishIwas19again · 27/06/2019 12:11

First one took 1 day, second 1.5 days, but he worked around school hours so short days

Raymondc · 04/01/2020 19:33

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

paintingprocover · 28/12/2022 22:36

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

gokuzeus78s · 30/12/2022 10:28

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread