How to make a loft-access hatch

Need access to your loft? Our easy-to-follow DIY guide can help you...

Level of difficulty

Level 3 – Advanced

What you need

• Loft-access trap
• Tape measure
• Power drill
• Saw
• Ladder
• Timber board
• Hammer
• Nails
• Timber linings
• Filler
• Moulding

The steps to follow

1. The opening of the loft hatch will mainly depend on the size or your folding ladder.
2. Have a clear idea on the size of the loft ladder you plan to install.
3. Based on the dimension of the ladder, mark the position of the hole on the ceiling. It's recommended that you don't plan on cutting out more than one ceiling joist.
4. First drill pilot holes along the marked area with a power drill.
5. Then use a saw to cut away the plasterwork to create the opening.
6. Try to climb up into the space and rest between two joists. Bring in a board to support yourself on the joists.
7. Cut away the middle joist and fit two new trimmers. These are battens that are placed between the joists.
8. Use housed joints to join the trimmers to the existing joists and then secure them with nails.
9. The opening should now look like a square housing. Cover joists with timber linings and use filler on the edges of the joists.
10. Next nail the moulding around the hatch opening.
11. To avoid condensation forming in the loft space, you should consider installing a loft-access trap, which you can acquire from your local DIY shop. The ready-made loft access trap should have an opening of the same dimension as the hatch opening.
12. Place the trap in the opening. Press it firmly to lock it into the opening; the frame on the access trap will act as a seal.
13. Now that you've finished installing the loft-access trap, your next step will be to fit loft ladders.

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