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So I had to use an +outdoor ladder to access the loft. For some odd reason they installed the loft +hatch in the bathroom which is inconvenient and risks exposing the loft space to +moisture. + +Installing a proper loft ladder and taking steps to reduce moisture was +therefore high on my priority list. + +Lofts are weird and bespoke so I was a bit nervous about buying an off-the-shelf +ladder but I knew it would be cheaper than paying a professional. + +I opted for the "Werner 3 Section Easy Stow Loft Ladder" from Argos. + +When I was about half-way through the installation, calamity struck and I +realised that the existing hatch, which opened inward, would be blocked from +closing by the ladder. + +To overcome this problem, I would need to construct a new hatch that opened +outward and that would hang down when the ladder was extended. + +This turned into quite a side-quest and took far longer than the installation of +the ladder itself. However it presented an opportunity to address the moisture +risk. + +I was mindful of moisture degrading the hatch-door so I did some research and +realised that I needed what's called _marine_ plywood. Basically, plywood +treated to withstand moisture better than standard ply. + +B&Q offer a cutting service where the first five cuts are free if you buy your +wood from them. So I ended up having to buy a very large piece of marine ply and +had it cut down to the size of the hatch. Alas, my measurements were off and it +was too small. So I had to try again with the spare wood and a hand-saw. This +time I was overly conservative and it was slightly too large, so I spent a long +time using a surform plane to shave it down to size. + +![It fits!](./img/ll-unpainted-hatch.jpg) + +Finally, it fit the hatch nicely. Marine ply on its own provides some protection +from moisture but to give it the best chance I bought some B.I.N primer which is +designed to protect wood in moist environments like kitchens and bathrooms. + +![B-I-N!](./img/bin-primer.jpg) + +After applying the primer I applied two coats of standard satin wood in +brilliant white. + +![The painted hatch](./img/ll-hatch-outside.jpg) + +![Only primed the outside. Perhaps I will regret this.](./img/ll-hatch-door-inside.jpg) + +Whilst the hatch did fit, there were annoying gaps on the left and the right +side. This is the sort of thing that gets ahold of me and burrows into my +subconscious because I am both a perfectionist and a highly average handiman. + +But then I had a brainwave and realised I could apply some white self-adhesive +draft excluder to both hide the gaps and reduce draught/moisture getting into +the loft. + +![Applying the draught excluder](./img/ll-draught-application-rotated.jpg) + +![Draught excluder, applied](./img/ll-draught-closeup-rotated.jpg) + +Also, the caulking around the hatch architrave was cracked and moist. So I +scraped it out and applied new caulk designed for bathrooms. I didn't bother to +paint over so it doesn't look amazing but the bathroom ceiling is already in a +bad way so I will leave that until I have it replastered and properly treated. + +![Ugly but functional recaulking](./img/ll-recaulking-rotated.jpg) + +With the hatch problem finally resolved I could finish installing the ladder. +This was mostly straightforward. With the ladder extended the hatch is very +small and I have to maneuvre myself sideways at the top to get through. Still, +this is much more convenient than bringing a dirty ladder into the bathroom +every time I want to access the loft. + +![Extended in all its raging glory](./img/ll-extended-1-rotated.jpg) + +Overall, this project probably cost more (£201) than it would to just have a +specialist install it but, on the plus side, I learned about marine ply (and +have plenty spare) and B.I.N which seems to be the gold standard of primers. I +also now have an intimate and god-like knowledge of my loft hatch and how many +people can say that these days? + +![Not extended, coy.](./img/ll-loft-collapsed-rotated.jpg) + +| Product | Cost | +| ------------------------------------------------------ | ----- | +| Werner 3 Section Loft Ladder (Argos) | 89.92 | +| Marine plywood (B&Q) | 65.00 | +| Stanley 40mm Plastic Surform Plane (Amazon) | 15.99 | +| Zinsser B-I-N White Multi-surface Matt Primer 1L (B&Q) | 24.00 | +| Self-adhesive draught excluder 6m | 6.49 |