what wood for a loft hatch?

[KentAndy]

I need to replace an old loft hatch and was wondering what would would be best to use and what kind of thickness?

 

[blackrodd]

If it's being hinged, you will need about 18mm to allow for safe hinge fixing, but if you just need a push up and out jobbie, then 10, or 12mm ply would do, and fit the stops to suit.
HTH Regards Rodders

 

[Lons]

18mm ply with a slab of celotex fixed for insulation

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Mine's in the garage. Anything less than 18mm ply or MDF would blow away.

 

[mseries]

Mines 18mm ply I think. Does it really matter so long as it looks proper and does it's job. I mean 6mm with a reinforcing frame on the upper side would surely do, maybe even thinner with more frame. My fathers isn't a solid panel, it's a softwood frame with a thin sheet on both sides, does the job just fine. In older houses I've see it made from T&G, probably floorboards - not my taste to be honest but it filled the hole.

 

[blackrodd]

18mm ply with a slab of celotex fixed for insulation

+ 1 for the above,Sorry, I forgot the insulation!
Rodders

 

[Doug B]

Personally I prefer plywood in a frame, this is one I made recently.

I form a rebate on the edge of the 18mm ply which fits in a corresponding rebate in the frame which allows the ply to sit flush with the frame on the inside should a roof ladder be required. The frame gives a good fixing for hinges & helps keep the ply flat.I like to do as much in the shop as I can, I usually make a frame, architrave it, hang the hatch & paint it before installation so minimising time on site

 

[blackrodd]

An excellent joinery job there, and well thought out too.
Regards Rodders

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Nice job, Doug, but I'm glad I wasn't picking up the bill.

 

[Hemsby]

Mine is 3/8 MDF with a 2x1 fame, glued & pinned.

Link to a previous post about Loft cover & Ladder
help-with-a-loft-ladder-and-hatch-please-t80804.html

regards,

 

[Doug B]

Nice job, Doug, but I'm glad I wasn't picking up the bill.

Thanks Phil, to be honest this option was cheaper than the others the customer had looked at, their first choice was a wooden folding ladder but the alteration of the ceiling joists to accommodate one would have been more costly than the one I made that simply fit between the joists.
They also preferred the fact that there would be no decorating doing it the way we did.