locking the loft

[ShipsWoofy]

If I was to use my loft for storage and rent the house I would like to lock it.

Bolts and padlocks would be simple, but very unsightly.

Standard loft type entrance with a square removable panel.. No fitted ladders or anything.

What options would I have that are secure, look neat, would be really hard to break balanced on a step ladder?

 

[LORDNELSON]

Um, any water tanks, other services in the roof space?

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

DogWatch,

Have you thought about access to leaking header tanks or overflow pipes...?

 

[ShipsWoofy]

nope, pressurised system, no header tanks.

Keys would be left with my mum and management company. The only things in the loft are the ceiling roses and mains cables for the upstairs ring. Nothing I would want a tenant touching.

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

well a good old fashioned mortice lock would do it surely?

 

[mainmarine]

You can get combination locking bolts that are quite strong and neat, you don't have the problem then of leaving keys.
Malc

 

[old_salt]

I would suggest you floor out the loft with loft boards ( B&Q) or others do shorter boards so you can get them up there. My reason is the ceiling plaster board is only 1/2 ins thick so any secure loft door would be useless if any one really wanted to see what was locked up there.

 

[[3889]]

If you have someone locally I would look at entry detection rather than prevention; the tennants aren't likely to scarper after breaking in . I think you can get some sort of alarm that texts a mobile, for boat security, ideal as you have a mains supply to charge batteries. Make sure tennant knows of security arrangements without too much detail, maybe include a a clause in the letting contract.

 

[Lakesailor]

Why not avoid the problem by leaving your stuff with your mum?

 

[[3889]]

Do you trust your stuff with your Mum?!!

 

[Slow_boat]

Mortice or Yale lock would do the trick.

 

[ShipsWoofy]

She has just sold her large house and moved into Chester. Great place but little room as she is now faced with all the accumulated stuff from a big place into a city dwelling.

I am not sure about an alarm, nor the worry of people digging in through a ceiling. If that happens I think my worry is more than some robbed cd's or my old Telly.

I may leave sentimental stuff with my mum, like my grans tea service and my dinner service (yes I am a bloke, but it cost me a lot!). I don't see us staying at sea forever and when I do come back to land wherever that may be, I would rather not have to start from scratch again.

Most is stuff that most wont even know, like some specialist tools. Not even worth a great deal, but have taken years to collect.

 

[ShipsWoofy]

How could I fit a mortice to a square piece of wood, unless you include fitting hinges to one end?

Are there no specialist type loft door locks?

 

[colvic987]

Hi dog watch, the sailing season is nearly over till the spring, but you don't have to take these drastic measures, i know august has been c**p, in the northwest, and as i am typing this it is chucking it down, forecast for at least the rest of the day, so no sailing for me either, but a life up in the attic till the boat goes back in the water...
Just think about it, winter planning in front of the fire, thoughts of where you would like to get to, or thoughts of where you got to, and how much further you would of got if the weather was better..

All those goodies you would like from the yachting glossies, especially just as the christmas list starts to get close to page 2..

All those dreary mid winter days down at the boatyard, your the only one there, and it is so daunting doing the work you've planned, freezing to death, that you wish that you were in the pub with a couple of mates...

THE SOLUTION TO YOUR ATTIC LOCK

why dont you fit four locks all of the same key to each side of the loft access, should be easy to sort out and there are plenty of lock types you should be able to find to suit..so the fittings are in the loft and cannot be gotten at, unscrewed etc..

the idea of boarding out the loft floor is a good one, or maybe fitting a secret wall against one of the ends of the house, and boarding it up and plastering or decorating after you have put your items in there, only you would know it was there, you could also lock the attic hatch as planned as well...

so are you planning to sail away, if so good luck, are you going to set up a blog of your adventures. your last website was good...

 

[affinite]

My house has a "bulkhead" in the loft with a conventional door into it ie loft is divided into 2 compartments ... water tanks in open side, lockable storage room in other half. You therefore dont have to do anything to loft access (Means that access for servicing tanks is completely open which is important if letting out)

 

[Gunfleet]

On behalf of parents throughout the world, leave the poor woman alone. Let him get hsi own storage space!

 

[Blueboatman]

Magna Carta is right.
Go up into your loft and contrive to fit 2 hinges to the back face of the trap,this will allow it to hinge inwards. Add a block of wood on the opposite (lock) edge of the trap,again on the back face,fit mortice to this.Quicker though to fit a simple cabinet lock to the back face,this will screw to the trap and you just cut a keyhole slot through the trap.
You might want to 'mimmick' the action of the trap door opening before you attach the hinges.Perfect boring job for a soggy saturday

 

[Seafort]

Just for peace of mind rent some space at a Big Yellow or similar place. Around about a months rental for a year.

Maintained environment and easy access if you need anything (No bothering tenants, or testing their curiosity).

A word of warning though: It's amazing how many people beg a corner of that space.

Dave.