Pocster Posted June 9, 2020 Posted June 9, 2020 I assumed a loft hatch with an attached loft ladder would make access easier for me . Problem is my hallway is 1.2m and joists run across it approx 57cm wide. ( so I can’t run it length ways down the hall ) My concern is a ladder won’t come fully down without hitting the wall . I’ve looked at the concertina ones ; can’t workout with the ladder extended how far it goes past the edge of the opening I.e will it hit the wall ? Anyone got one ?
ProDave Posted June 9, 2020 Posted June 9, 2020 Cut one of the joists and frame round it to fit a ladder the correct way. 1
Pocster Posted June 9, 2020 Author Posted June 9, 2020 7 minutes ago, ProDave said: Cut one of the joists and frame round it to fit a ladder the correct way. See . Now I thought that . But I’m scared to cut a structural joist .... Assumed it was a bad plan ...
PeterW Posted June 9, 2020 Posted June 9, 2020 You can trim and reinforce those to make the gap - just needs to be sistered/framed with the same size joists and doubled up all round
wozza Posted June 9, 2020 Posted June 9, 2020 My loft hatch is adjacent to a bedroom door, so to use the ladder you need to open the bedroom door
Pocster Posted June 9, 2020 Author Posted June 9, 2020 7 minutes ago, wozza said: My loft hatch is adjacent to a bedroom door, so to use the ladder you need to open the bedroom door Yeah I tried that . My jousts are about 10cm past the door way so won’t fit .
Pocster Posted June 9, 2020 Author Posted June 9, 2020 11 minutes ago, PeterW said: You can trim and reinforce those to make the gap - just needs to be sistered/framed with the same size joists and doubled up all round Erm . Not 100% sure what you mean . I’m weary of electrics and structural things . Drawing of what I have Drawing of ‘my plan ‘
Pocster Posted June 9, 2020 Author Posted June 9, 2020 Tempted to put loft hatch in bedroom entrance as ladder could run into the ensuite . Avoids ‘fear’ of cutting joists ...
Onoff Posted June 9, 2020 Posted June 9, 2020 18 minutes ago, pocster said: put loft hatch in bedroom entrance Euphemism? 1
Onoff Posted June 9, 2020 Posted June 9, 2020 You could disguise the loft hatch as a dropped ceiling section with LED lighting. I think @Barney12 did a feature in his kitchen like this (not with a hatch mind).
Pocster Posted June 9, 2020 Author Posted June 9, 2020 37 minutes ago, Onoff said: You could disguise the loft hatch as a dropped ceiling section with LED lighting. I think @Barney12 did a feature in his kitchen like this (not with a hatch mind). Could do . It would look well tacky and crap .
joe90 Posted June 9, 2020 Posted June 9, 2020 I have done loads of these, as per others above cut joist and frame around it, doubled up or belt and braces screw 18mm chipboard across joists either end of the loft hatch .
PeterW Posted June 9, 2020 Posted June 9, 2020 1 hour ago, pocster said: Could do . It would look well tacky and crap . Couldn't you bling it up with some walk on glazing...??? 4
joe90 Posted June 9, 2020 Posted June 9, 2020 @pocster from your second “CAD” drawing how many joists do you need to cut?, also are the joists resting on the walls either side? 1
Pocster Posted June 9, 2020 Author Posted June 9, 2020 (edited) 48 minutes ago, joe90 said: @pocster from your second “CAD” drawing how many joists do you need to cut?, also are the joists resting on the walls either side? I use a very specific CAD program - it came free with some walk on glazing . I think I only need to cut 1 . The joists do indeed run straight across the width of the mansion . Edited June 9, 2020 by pocster
Pocster Posted June 9, 2020 Author Posted June 9, 2020 4 hours ago, joe90 said: I have done loads of these, as per others above cut joist and frame around it, doubled up or belt and braces screw 18mm chipboard across joists either end of the loft hatch . Think I might bolt across it all . Stick a photo up here BEFORE I cut . It would be deeply upsetting if I’m crushed in my own house .
Pocster Posted June 9, 2020 Author Posted June 9, 2020 3 hours ago, PeterW said: Couldn't you bling it up with some walk on glazing...??? Walk on glazing has many , many uses as you’ve implied . This though would be an inappropriate use of it .
CC45 Posted June 9, 2020 Posted June 9, 2020 6 hours ago, pocster said: Erm . Not 100% sure what you mean . I’m weary of electrics and structural things . Drawing of what I have Drawing of ‘my plan ‘ What I would do ... Put a piece of timber along the top / bottom of the existing joists to hold them temporarily while you cut the pieces out, cut and then add bracing. If you are really worried you could form the 'box' 1st and then cut to fit this - pop this in place and fix. If it all goes wrong no liability here + anything there of interest to the rest of us self builders? 1
Pocster Posted June 9, 2020 Author Posted June 9, 2020 1 minute ago, CC45 said: What I would do ... Put a piece of timber along the top / bottom of the existing joists to hold them temporarily while you cut the pieces out, cut and then add bracing. If you are really worried you could form the 'box' 1st and then cut to fit this - pop this in place and fix. If it all goes wrong no liability here + anything there of interest to the rest of us self builders? Should I prepare my will just in case ? Who wants to be left some glazing ?
CC45 Posted June 9, 2020 Posted June 9, 2020 I'd leave the will - it will be more fun for you to look down / up at all the fighting going on. 1
Pocster Posted June 9, 2020 Author Posted June 9, 2020 10 minutes ago, CC45 said: I'd leave the will - it will be more fun for you to look down / up at all the fighting going on. True . I can imagine the thread “Pocster’s dead - what do I get ? “ . Hundreds and hundreds of pages .
Pocster Posted June 9, 2020 Author Posted June 9, 2020 Seems *too* cheap ? Looks like the steps don’t go much wider than the hatch .... could mount in between trusses ?? https://www.laddersandscaffoldtowers.co.uk/acatalog/Concertina-Loft-Ladders.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI8ciF3Mn16QIVhrHtCh1MuwvNEAQYCSABEgIQ-vD_BwE
CC45 Posted June 9, 2020 Posted June 9, 2020 not sure I'd want to lift stuff up using this. don't the ones on ebay give you dimensions for when the steps are down?
ProDave Posted June 9, 2020 Posted June 9, 2020 You are trying to "fix" it with a tiny ladder, than fix the issue stopping you getting a decent ladder in. If you want to be going up and down carrying stuff, AND without keep banging your head, you need a decent size loft hatch.
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