Loft Ladder Fitting
A boarded loft you can't get into easily is a boarded loft you won't use. Developers rarely fit a ladder, and a stepladder balanced on the landing is how most loft accidents happen. A proper fixed ladder takes a couple of hours and changes the space completely.
In short — what loft ladder fitting is
Loft ladder fitting is the supply and installation of a fixed, folding ladder into a loft hatch so the space can be reached safely without a stepladder. Xtraspace Lofts supplies and fits timber, aluminium and concertina loft ladders across Rainham, Medway and Kent from £150 to £300 fitted, including any trimming of the hatch opening required to take the ladder. Most ladders are fitted in under two hours, and they are usually installed on the same visit as loft boarding.
What customers say
“Colin and his team recently installed boarding in our loft as well as loft ladder of our new build. They were courteous, quick, professional and very tidy. I was kept informed all along the process and the work was done to a very high standard. I thoroughly recommend anyone else to utilise this firm.”
“Really happy with our loft installation from Xtraspace Loft Boarding. Colin was professional, friendly and efficient, and the work was completed to a really high standard. We had our hatch enlarged with an easy to use wooden ladder fitted and the loft boarded with additionally shelving. Great service from start to finish - highly recommend!”
“I recently had my loft transformed by Xtraspace and couldn't be happier with the result. They installed a wooden loft ladder and created so much extra storage space for us. As a family-run business, they really take pride in their work. Colin and the team were extremely professional from start to finish and provided an excellent service. They took great care to protect my carpets and home as well and were incredibly clean and tidy while they worked. The quality of the workmanship is outstanding, and I'm so happy with my new loft space. I would highly recommend Xtraspace to anyone looking for a reliable, professional company.”
Which ladder suits your landing
Timber ladders are the most comfortable underfoot and the quietest to use — a good choice where the hatch is above a bedroom or you'll be up and down regularly. They need a little more swing space on the landing.
Aluminium ladders are lighter, slimmer when folded and take up less room in the loft when stowed. Concertina ladders fold into the smallest footprint of all, which makes them the answer on a tight landing or where a door opens close to the hatch.
We'll look at the landing, the swing, the ceiling height and where you'll actually be standing, then tell you which of the three fits. It's usually obvious once someone has measured it.
When the hatch needs enlarging first
Plenty of hatches — new build hatches especially — are too small to take a ladder at all. Enlarging the opening is straightforward work in most ceilings, and we do it as part of the same job rather than sending you to someone else.
Where the opening is widened we finish it properly: new lining, architrave and an insulated hatch door that closes against a seal, so you're not trading easy access for a permanent draught.
What loft ladder installation in Kent involves
Installation starts with a proper look at the hatch and the landing underneath it. We measure the opening, check the floor-to-ceiling drop, work out where the ladder will land and make sure nothing swings into a door, a light fitting or the top of the stairs. Those few minutes of measuring are what separate a ladder that folds away sweetly from one that fights you every time you use it.
The fitting itself is tidy, indoor work. The ladder is mounted square to the opening, packed and fixed so there is no sideways movement in it, then set so the treads sit level and the feet meet the floor properly instead of skidding. We test it, adjust the pivot or the spring, and show you how it folds away before we leave. Dust sheets go down first and the offcuts and packaging leave with us.
Most installations are done in a single visit, and plenty are carried out alongside loft boarding so there is only one trip into the house. Timber, aluminium and concertina ladders are supplied and fitted from £150 to £300, and which one suits you comes down to the landing: timber where you want comfort underfoot, aluminium where space is tighter, concertina where a door opens close to the hatch. If the existing opening is too small to take a ladder, we enlarge it and finish it with new lining, architrave and an insulated hatch door in the same visit, so you are not left waiting on a second trade.
Hatch too small or draughty?
Insulated loft hatch, fitted the same visit
We widen the opening and fit a new insulated hatch door that seals against draughts, usually alongside the ladder or boarding. £150–£350 fitted.
Loft hatch upgradesLoft Ladder Fitting we've fitted
Recent loft ladder fitting projects
All projects
RainhamLoft ladder and new hatch in Rainham
A new loft hatch and wooden loft ladder fitted to a hallway ceiling in Rainham.
See the job
Walderslade, ChathamLoft ladder and hatch in Walderslade
A wooden loft ladder and new hatch door fitted in a bedroom in Walderslade, replacing a bare boxed opening.
See the job
Borden, SittingbourneWooden loft ladder in Borden
A wooden loft ladder and hatch fitted on a landing in Borden, near Sittingbourne.
See the jobWhere we fit loft ladder fitting
Based in Rainham (ME8) and covering the Medway towns and the wider Kent area. Pick your town for local detail, typical housing stock and prices.
Loft Ladder Fitting
Frequently asked questions
We measure the hatch and the landing, check the swing and the drop, then fix the ladder square to the opening so there is no movement in it. The ladder is tested and adjusted on the day, and we show you how it folds away before we go. Dust sheets go down first and all the packaging leaves with us.
Yes. Enlarging the opening is straightforward work in most ceilings and we do it as part of the same job, finishing it with new lining, architrave and an insulated hatch door. That way you get easy access without ending up with a draught, and without waiting on another trade.
A loft ladder supplied and fitted is typically £150–£300 depending on the type. If the hatch has to be enlarged to take it, a new insulated hatch and enlarged opening adds £150–£350. Both are usually done in the same visit.
Timber ladders are the most comfortable and quietest to use but need more swing space. Aluminium ladders are lighter and slimmer when folded. Concertina ladders fold into the smallest footprint, which makes them the answer on a tight landing. The right one is set by your landing space and how often you'll use it.
Usually yes — we enlarge the opening as part of the same job. New build hatches in particular are often too small to take any ladder, so widening comes first, then the ladder, then a properly insulated hatch door to finish it.
Under two hours for a straightforward fit into an existing hatch. If the opening needs enlarging, allow half a day. When it's part of a boarding job it's all done in the same single visit.
Often fitted with this
Loft Hatch Upgrades
Loft hatches enlarged and insulated across Rainham, Medway & Kent. Wider openings, sealed insulated doors, no more draughts. From £150 fitted.
£150–£350 fittedLoft Boarding
Professional loft boarding across Rainham, Medway & Kent. Strong, walkable storage floors from £350 fitted, most finished in a day. Free survey, fixed price.
£350–£1,200 fittedNew Build Loft Boarding
New build loft boarding across Rainham, Medway & Kent. Raised floors spanning trussed roofs — insulation intact, no truss cut, warranty safe. From £600.
£600–£1,200 fittedGet a fixed price for loft ladder fitting
Free survey, no obligation — an honest look at your loft and a clear price before you commit to anything.