loft

Looking for advice on loft ladders, stairs or loft conversions? Explore our latest blogs offering product comparisons, important information on regulations, as well as tips and inspiration for your loft space.

  1. Common Noises In The Loft Explained

    Common Noises In The Loft Explained

    There’s nothing more unnerving than a hollow clack, bump, or sharp thud, emanating from somewhere in your home in the middle of the night. That’s because these noises are often mistaken for a tree limb falling on the roof, a slamming door, animal intruders, or a hungry ghost raiding your fridge while everybody else is asleep. But the explanation is typically something far less ominous and could instead be coming from inside your loft. 

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  2. 7 Ways to Make Spring Cleaning Your Loft More Effective

    Did you have March 20th circled-in on your calendar? Unless it was somebody’s birthday, probably not. In case you didn’t already know, this date marks the official start of spring - at 10:45 PM GMT to be precise - and that can only mean one thing; it’s time for a good old-fashioned Spring Clean in the attic.

    Whether you’re a regular loft-user or only make use of it now and again, it’s almost certainly in need of a thorough tidying since the last time you did it properly, so what better time to give it the good once-over and freshen things up a little. That’s why we’ve put together a few Spring Clean tips to get your loft nice and clean for the summer, from cluttered storage spaces to bedroom and bathroom conversions.

    Bathroom Boosters

    If you’re lucky enough to have an extra bathroom or ensuite in your loft, then you’ll know how good it feels to have a clean and tidy sanctuary where you can soak your troubles away. Making sure it’s absolutely spotless will definitely help you to relax the

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  3. Flowers in The Attic - 5 Fresh Ideas to Brighten Your Loft This Spring

    Flowers in The Attic - 5 Fresh Ideas to Brighten Your Loft This Spring

    Brightening Your Loft

    With spring just around the corner, we'’ve been seriously thinking of ways to liven up our attic rooms and make things all lovely and bright. A few light touches here and there can really make all the difference, from the odd creative textile usage to clever flower displays and window dressings. It’s all about embracing the change of the season. So why not try a few of these ideas to create a warm, inviting attic room that’s bang on trend for Springtime 2015.

    Sugar Ceramics

    Looking like something between mother of pearl and a sugar-glazed gobstopper, these elegant ‘sugar ceramic’ style vases really convey an essence of chic in the most bright and modern way possible. A surprising mix of vintage and glam that would look great in your contemporary conversion.

    Watering Can Flower Arrangements

    These rustic watering can arrangements are beautifully shabby chic. What better way to utilise them than with some gorgeous, elegant flowers in a lighter complimentary shade - think

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  4. Picking the Perfect Paint Colour for Your Loft Space

    Picking the Perfect Paint Colour for Your Loft Space

    So you’ve got your loft space sorted and the layout in mind but until you start experimenting with colour, you won’t have a fully-realised picture of how everything will look. Choosing the perfect paint colour can be tricky. How do you get it right?

    The answer is quite simple; planning and preparation. Here we’ve highlighted several key points to consider when finding the ideal paint colour for your loft space.

    Think about mood

    When selecting a colour, consider the mood you want your room to convey. If it’s a bedroom, do you want the feeling to be restful and soothing or playful and dynamic? Soft, cool colours and neutrals create a quieter feeling while stronger colours are more of a statement.

    Really think about the main reason why you wanted a loft conversion in the first place - was it meant to be a sanctuary, or a sociable place for family and friends? Warmer, contrasting and brighter colours are best used to stimulate group activity in a fun and energetic way.

    Consider who will be

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  5. Lofty Ambitions - Installing a Loft Conversion for Difficult Roof Constructions

    You’ve probably realised that not all types of roof are suited for conversion into a comfortable, accommodating living space. This can be a particular problem if your heart is set on a loft conversion but have a difficult roof construction - especially when a loft conversion is the ideal solution for adding space to your home.

    Not enough headroom

    If the initial roof inspection reveals a head height of less than 2.2m, there are a number of things you can do to make it feasible. It all depends on planning permission and the amount of money that you’re prepared to spend.

    It may sound drastic, but a removal and rebuild could be a viable option for increasing vertical space in your loft and giving the required structure. The major problems are the high cost and getting planning approval (as you are quite literally raising the roof expanding your existing structure).

    Another solution would be to lower the ceiling of the floor below, borrowing spare headroom from the room beneath your loft. Unlike

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  6. Loft Insulation Grants - Lets Take a Look

    Loft Insulation Grants - Lets Take a Look

    You don’t need reminding that winter is well and truly underway. If you’ve not already insulated your loft, you could be losing a quarter of your home’s heat through the roof - increasing the amount of energy being used and needlessly adding cost to your heating bills.

    Many people are put off by the cost of undertaking such a task, despite the fact they could be saving as much as £180 a year once insulation is in place. Fortunately there are a number of grants available to homeowners, meaning homeowners could be entitled to free loft insulation.

    What is a loft insulation grant?

    A loft insulation grant is provided by Green Deal - a government initiative aimed at making sure as many UK homes as possible are properly insulated, green and environmentally friendly.

    The grant covers the cost of materials and labour, so you won’t have to pay a single penny (if eligible).

    What if I’m not eligible?

    Regardless of whether you’re eligible for the grant or not, it’s still worth looking into insulating

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  7. The Natural Beauty of The Neutral

    The Natural Beauty of The Neutral

    Simplicity is anything but simple. It requires discipline and foresight: the ability to see how a stripped-back space can be transformed into an appealing place to live. In other words, neutral is beautiful. That’s why we’ve compiled this list of some of our favourite loft/attics that aren’t afraid to bare all.

    Scandinavian Blonde

    This sauna-like attic renovation makes use of light-coloured wood and natural daylight in order to create an open but equally warm and inviting space. It looks fresh and absolutely begs to be filled with furniture of a similar style. Too much wood can often come across as overbearing (especially dark and stained wood) but here it has been used to lend a clean, Scandinavian, and very modern feel.

    Porcelain Temple

    Greys and whites are fabulous shades for creating the illusion of space, typically when space is tight. The inclusion of painted trusses adds a quirky feel that not only looks unique, it also reacts with the daylight in a dynamic way; casting dapples of

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  8. Great Window Dressing Ideas For Your Loft Conversion

    Great Window Dressing Ideas For Your Loft Conversion

    Whether you already have a loft conversion or you’re thinking of having one installed, there are some wonderful ideas out there for dressing your windows.

    Windows are, after all, a massive focal point of any loft space, not to mention a major source of light. If you’re serious about creating a comfortable, functional space in your loft then you need to put some thought into how best to use them. Thankfully, we’ve managed to come up with this list of ideas to get you started.

    Room With a View

    This glacial white conversion is kept clean and crisp looking with an extraordinary abundance of light, facilitated by these very simple but highly effective fitted vertical blinds. It’s these bold, clean lines that help accentuate the angles of this beautiful ceiling to full effect.

    New Old Look

    Here is a contemporary twist on a very traditional setup. Matching blinds and bedcovers have been used to create this cosy scene, but there’s also a touch of minimalism going on here with the neutral walls

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  9. Raw Space - Contemporary Living Designs For Your Loft Conversion

    Raw Space - Contemporary Living Designs For Your Loft Conversion

    Creating a space that’s truly stunning visually, whilst retaining comfort and usability is a difficult trick to pull off. When it comes to loft decoration, less is definitely more. So why not go that one step further and strip your ideas for filling that liveable space to the bare minimum. Here’s some stylishly clever things to consider:

    Exposed brick, from rustic to modern chic

    Exposed brickwork on your walls might sound like an incremental stage of an unfinished loft conversion, but done correctly it can achieve that “lived-in” feel that has become so popular in recent years.

    Retaining the natural reddish-brown colour of any exposed brickwork exudes rustic-comfort that would suit any stylish bedroom or contemporary living area. Whereas painting brickwork in clean, neutral colours will transform shabby to modern chic.

    Above: This minimalist bedroom has been achieved by combining exposed brick walls painted white alongside clean white walls and bare wooden flooring. Very bright and modern-looking.

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  10. An Edifying Look At Common Loft Conversion Stumbling Blocks

    We’ve talked about loft conversions quite a lot over the past couple of weeks. In fact it’s become something of an obsession. We’ve already looked at some of the lovelier aspects of converting your loft/attic into a more accommodating living space, so now we thought we’d take you through a few of the stumbling blocks you may need to overcome when considering a loft conversion of your own.

    Insufficient headroom

    One of the common problems of remodelling your loft into a comfortable living space is ensuring sufficient room for standing. Lofts tend to have low ceilings anyway, and some insulation materials can often add bulk that takes up valuable headroom.

    Try using multi-layer reflective foil insulation (which is actually thinner than most other types) to save space. You can also grab a little extra headroom where you need it by positioning a roof-light, which will give you an extra 15cm of clearance.

    Header tank is in the way

    Header tanks for central heating and the cold-water supply can

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