The start of a new man cave

[NorthumBryan]

Today's episode is not photo worthy but the ceiling is repaired after the garage door was fitted. Ready for ceiling tiles but I'm going to finish the floor first. More shelving and racking has arrived too so it's flat pack central in there at the moment.

[Asmith61]

 

[Fat Rat]

I think you need to re-think that space. Throw a tarp over the bikes and rent the Annexe Garage to two or three families.

[NorthumBryan]

It's funny you say that FR but I had one of my mates round and he recons if I insulated the walls there is enough space to make a 1 bedroom bungalow. I don't think the mrs will put up with the big green box much longer mind...

[NorthumBryan]

Todays update, well, the Mrs was super impressed with my efforts putting down the flooring that she has voluntarily increased the budget on the garage refurb. The builder has been paid and it cam in slightly under budget so I have been told to install a permanent loft ladder & new hatch and I can have UPVC ceiling cladding instead of just polystyrene tiles. This should look superb when it's done and I'm looking forward to updating you with some pictures as 'phase 2' progress.

[Asmith61]

Wow you have been a good boy then 

That is going to look really smart and I am beginning to think FR may have been right all along 

[Mick B]

It will be a very nice place to 'work' when you finish it. 

[Rusty Nuts]

Big enough and posh enough for a "business meeting" with cheese and wine.

[NorthumBryan]

  

[NorthumBryan]

Yet another busy day in the garage, this time installing a new loft ladder. It's a two man job which I did myself and it was a struggle. A bit of ingenuity and some large tie wraps replaced person number 2 and the end result is an easy to access loft. Happy with it but it is a little bit shonky in places, the metalwork & brackets are particularly 'cheap & nasty' but it's fitted.
Once the cladding goes up I'll trim up the edges and it'll look like it's been there for years.

[Rusty Nuts]

Hmmm, I've just been investigating loft ladders. I have two problems.
1, the existing hatch is only about 8 inches from the wall, so the ladder needs to sit entirely on the hatch or only overhang by  8 inches or less.
2, the existing hatch is not long enough to accept this type of ladder unless it is a telescopic type.
3, the telescopic ones are silly prices.
Oh yeah, that's three.

[NorthumBryan]

The one I bought (from Tool Station) sits entirely in it's own hatch area with no overhangs. It needs about 250mm of headroom for the ladder but that's it. It is designed to fit between the standard 600mm spacing of rafters and at 550mm fits nicely with a bit of packing. Up to 2.8M in height too, not sure if that is any help ? The ladder just unfolds rather than telescopes which may or may not be better ?

[Rusty Nuts]

Thanks, but I don't think the folding type would fit unless I start chopping more ceiling out. The existing hatch isn't long enough for those ladder sections.

[NorthumBryan]

Bugger. I did see a loft ladder with really short aluminium sections that telescoped out but it wasn't cheap. It was designed for really tight spaces.

[Rusty Nuts]

Tight space and tight wallet seem to be incompatible. I have permission to cut the ceiling - providing I don't damage anything, make a mess, spend too much.... and it has to be finished by the time she gets back from shopping.