[StuBeeDoo]

I haven't been able to run my cars for over two months, while upgrades to the attic have been underway.

I have had an electrician in to add more sockets, which has enabled me to fit an electric ladder.  The previous ladder, which was fitted nearly twenty years ago, was manual and awkward to raise/lower and also to climb, as it was fitted (not by me, I should add) with the top step right against a wall.  

It's been quite a project, and has tested my DIY skills.  

Yesterday evening was spent cleaning the track.

[Anthony B]

Pics???  

[StuBeeDoo]

Pics???  

OK, seeing as you asked...........

The original ladder was in the opposite direction to this one.  To the left of this picture are the stairs to the ground floor.  Getting anything in or out of the attic used to be awkward. Anything coming down had to be brought down the ladder and put in the boxroom, then the ladder had to be put raised out of the way before you could carry whatever it was downstairs.  Reverse the process for stuff to be stored.  Christmas trimmings have always been a nightmare.........

   


Here you can see where the old hatch was.  I had to cut about an extra 600mm out, once I had removed the old ladder/hatch unit.  Then the resulting hole in the ceiling had to be plasterboarded and the light fitting fitted into the new board.  Just out of the image, on the left, is the party wall to next door.

   


Here you can see where the stairs are, in relation to the new ladder.

   


The two oblong marks in the carpet behind the ladder are where the old ladder used to drop to.  Given that the old ladder run the opposite way, you can see the problem with getting anything in/out of the attic previously.

   


Moving into the attic, you can see the new floorboards and they should give an idea of how close the step off the old ladder was to the wall.  The double socket on the wall was previously the only power source in the attic.  I need to get another carpet off-cut now.
On the floor, to the left of the ladder, are the power socket, the re-located light switch, a junction box for the re-located light at the top of the stairs, and the back-up battery for the ladder.

   


Here are the 3 new double sockets above my small bench.  I may make a bigger bench at some point.

   


And this the ladder when it's raised into the attic.  At least I can get it out of the way when Mrs.Stu wants to use her study (a.k.a the boxroom) and I want to play at one and the same time.

   

[JasonB]

The old arrangement looks like one of those things that would just get on your nerves constantly.

Much better now.

[StuBeeDoo]

The old arrangement looks like one of those things that would just get on your nerves constantly.

It certainly did.  I looked into several solutions, over quite a few years, including a proper staircase - which would have been my preferred option.