What to Consider When Deciding on a Loft Door

A modern loft is an excellent idea to decrease clutter and finally use the space between the living area of your house and the roof. When designing your loft, the most important decision you will have to make is what kind of loft hatch to choose. This decision will affect the comfort of using your loft space and determine the level of insulation and drought-proofing in your house. There are plenty of different factors to consider when deciding on the right loft doors; here are things you should consider before making a purchase.

Ease of Access

It is crucial to choose a hatch that facilitates ease of access to the new storage space. Dropdown loft doors come in a variety of different types and sizes and making sure that your hatch is within the National House Building Council requirements is the first step you should take, as they are designed to guarantee safety and ease of use. Once you have narrowed down the list of potential hatches, it is time to check whether the process of opening and closing the loft doors run smoothly. If the hatch you like checks both of the boxes, it’s potentially the one you should go for.

Insulation and Draught-Proofing

The perfect loft doors are fitted with draught seals and proper insulation. These additional features may cost a little extra, but they are worth the investment. Having insulation and draught-proofing will help you save a lot of energy, increase the thermal performance, and turn your loft area into an eco-friendly place. These features are even more significant when you want to make use of the loft space in an older building, as the insulation will directly affect your energy/heating bills.

Types of Loft Doors

At the moment, there are two types of loft doors available on the market, push up and hinged. The hinged loft hatch is essentially a lid that hinges down. The push up loft door, on the other hand,  is a two-piece hatch where the frame is separate from the lid. Opening it requires you to lift the door up into the loft space. The differences between the two are the design and the opening method, so all you have to do is decide which type is more comfortable for you and matches your loft space better.

Quality

There is no surprise that there is a difference in quality between manufacturers, brands, and loft hatches themselves. You can find anything from a standard inexpensive hatch to custom loft doors with a unique design. You should look for a hatch that is made from high-quality materials, has been tested, and comes with two years of warranty, at least. If you can, consider investing in steel hatches rather than plastic ones.

Ease of Installation

The final factor that you should take into consideration when looking for the right loft door is the ease of fitting it into the wall. Most of the available hatches on the market use a method of screw fixing, which is the easiest method and one that you can perform by yourself. If you can, buy a hatch that uses this particular method.

You simply insert the inner frame into the opening of your loft and screw fix into the wall. The placement of the holes should be highlighted on the frame and the fixing screws provided with the door. You can try to fit it yourself or hire somebody else to do it for you, but generally speaking, it is a simple and straightforward process.

Conclusion

When you are trying to make use of your loft, choosing the door is the most crucial element of the whole process. Consider all of the factors mentioned above and choose the loft hatch that will not only fit perfectly but also provide the functionality you are looking for. Do your research and find the ideal loft door for your house.

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