Building a den in the loft

[Halcyon]

Iv'e had this idea that I'd like to try and make happen.
Whether it is feasable or not is another question.


There are built in wardrobes in my kids bedrooms. I was thinking of creating a secret den for them to play in where they would have a ladder in the wardobe that would take them up into the loft to a play room.


Now I don't want to transform my entire loft but wondered whether I could cut a hole and create an entrence in the ceiling, and then make an area boarded, add plasterboards and make a little room for them.


Has anyone done this? Is it something that seems possible?


Thanks.

[Jaymoss]

I would say it would be possible. As it is for kids and nothing heavy using the existing beams should be fine. Maybe bolster the beams with sections between them to spread the weight. You will have to see what is up there and how you will make the frame but I imagine it should be quite a simple job. Lighting should be easy enough to spur up there too and running an extension for mains through the hidden entrance would be easy. Sounds fun

Look forward to seeing the results

[Taf]

Our neighbour had a full loft extension done, but opted-out of having a door fitted. All the heat and humidity in the house rose up into the attic. Damp soon caused problems, and their heating bill skyrocketed.

Covid meant no-one would come out to do anything about it for almost 2 years, but now a door has been fitted, plus a nifty heat exchanger that takes out the moisture from the air.

But about a year ago he got a letter stating that his Community Charge was rising due to "the extra added bedroom".

[joglynne]

We created a play area for our son 30 years ago. Our house is pre 1st war and the joists in the loft were strong enough to cope, so we enlarged the loft hatch and added a strong 2 sectional extending ladder which we attached to the loft floor it had hand rails at both sides. We boarded out the loft to right under the eaves using plywood which our local B & Q cut into narrow widths to fit through the loft hatch ...( other DIY stores are available )

The loft has the same footprint as the house and we boarded up the areas under the eaves to create storage. When it was finished my MIL donated a large carpet. Our Axminster clad loft, once again, has a 60ft train track in place this time for our grandson's enjoyment. Although he once came downstairs to watch cartoons without his dad and grandfather realising they had been playing, errrrr I mean redesigning the layout, with out him for over an hour before they noticed.

The fiddliest thing was sorting out the lighting and putting a couple air vents in the roof as with the roof insulated it can get extremely hot up there and sweaty feet aromas are something we didn't want to have to live with.

[heero_yuy]

You can get special chipboard panels that are interlocking and designed to be passed up through an existing loft hatch. I used some to put a floor in the centre of our loft, over the spine wall where it's best supported, and use it for storage of things like Xmas decorations.

[Halcyon]

Thankyou everyone. I am definately thinking I will go ahead with this over the coming year.
I'm going to check the loft over the weekend. It's a new-ish build from 2003 so the joists/beams arent very big but I think I could definately start by putting a floor down.


I always wondered whether there should be space betwen the insulation and boards though in the past have just shoved the insulation down between the wood and then laid them on top without problems.

I dont think a space is necessary, but I was advised not to compress the insulation too much.

[Taf]

This is worth watching.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i41oW85zPm8