Roof Space – Access

One of the things that frequently gets forgotten is the hatch that gives access to the roof space.

Location

A usual location is in acorridor close to the secondary bedrooms.

It doesn’t seem that important but when you need the heating serviced, electrical alterations, plumbing alterations, etc, you are going to get tradies coming through the house.

Alternative Locations

When they have gone I often find dirty fingerprints on the hatch. . . which means I then need to get a ladder to clean the hatch.

It’s worth thinking about where you put this hatch.

If you have a single storey house the garage is probably the most convenient location followed by the laundry.

If you have got a 2 storey house an unobtrusive location may be a bit harder to find. . . . but make sure you think about it otherwise Sod’s Law says it will finish up in the worst spot.

Type and Size

If you are the sort of person who can’t throw anything away you might want some extra space for storage.

In that case perhaps you should think about a larger hatch fitted with a ladder. (The ladder in the photo is a product of the ATTIC Group which is going to cost over $1,000)

Finally

Don’t put anything heavy in the attic as the roof trusses aren’t designed for heavy loads.

 

For similar posts see Selection

 

Roof Access Hatch – 5 Considerations

Guest post by Hubert Dwight

If you are considering building a house with a flat roof or very low pitched roof (2-5 degrees) perhaps you should think about a roof access hatch.

If you are thinking about installing a roof access hatch in your new home, here are some important things to consider:

Convenient Access

There are a lot of reasons why you might want to have convenient access to your roof .

You never know when you are going to need to get up there to do small repairs, install an aerial, clean the solar panels,  or just  retrieve your kids ball from the roof.

In fact, some people have  small gardens because of the shade free sunlight they get up there.

Whatever your reasons for installing a roof access hatch, having this convenient access is much easier and safer than having to get out the ladder and climb up the outside of your house.

NB If you plan on regularly accessing your roof you will need to address the issue of ‘Falls From Hight’ and take precautions such as high parapet walls or balustrades.

Safety

Having access to the roof in times of fire, flood, or other natural disasters can save your life.

For example in a bushfire situation it would make it easy to install sprinklers on the roof perimeter to provide a spray that would envelope the house.

In a flood the roof will be the safest place.

While these events don’t happen often, don’t let yourself get caught in a situation when you realise you should have had one installed for safety reasons.

Sustainable

Its a good idea to ask about the insulated options.

Openings facing the sky lose a lot more heat in winter than vertical openings. they also are subject to the most direct sunlight in the summer.

Now, while you might spend more money on the front end, down the road you will have minimised your energy consumption.

Access To The View

If you are a serious amateur astronomer or just a casual ‘stargazer’ you can get a much better view from above the streetlights.

A  view from the roof will also give you an unobstructed view of the New Year Fireworks!

Value

When you decide to invest in a roof access hatch quality is very important.

Our homes and properties are some of the biggest investments we can make in our lives so for a roof hatch value means quality more than price.

On the roof the hatch will have to withstand pouring rain and strong winds. . . In alpine areas there could be snow and ice in winter.

You should look for a supplier with well designed weather seals and strong construction to avoid warping.

Achieving a 5 star energy rating is also really important.

 

A roof hatch can have many benefits but make sure you choose quality.

 

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