"Mike Pepper" wrote:
What's the best way of achieving this to SWMBO compliant standards,
(i.e. so the result doesn't just look like a sheet of painted plywood
stuck to the ceiling!).
Also, at the moment insulation is attached to the rear of the (push up)
hatch stapled behing a plastic sheet - how have people attached
insulation to their drop down hatches so as not to interfere with loft
ladders etc.

Presumably the existing hinge-up hatch rests on four battens fixed inside
the frame. Depending on the frame depth you might be able to re-position the
flap so that it is hinged under the battens. The hatch can be fixed in place
by a lock so that only the key hole is visible, if you don't want a bolt.
Or, spring-held catches are an alternative but then you would need a handle
or knob in order to pull the hatch down. Magnetic catches are another
possibility, but again a handle or knob would probably be needed. You may
have to reposition the battens higher in the frame. Insulation probably isn't
necessary but a slab of glued on insulation, such as a cavity wall
insulation batt, might be more pleasing to madam's eye. You might get some
ideas he

http://images.google.co.uk/images?q=loft+hatch&ndsp=20&svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&saf e=off&start=0&sa=N



There are ready made white upvc drop down hatches but you may have to alter
the size of the hatch opening to suit:
http://www.lyndalestairs.co.uk/UPVCtrap.jpg