On 18 Dec, 11:52, PeterC wrote:
I've a largish hatch with the ladder mounted on it. It's 1100x700mm, so a
good source of overhead cooling :-( *it's this one more or less:

http://www.laddersandscaffoldtowers....en_Loft_Ladder...

Now, I can't afford to lose any depth behind the treads - in fact, could do
with more - as me feets too big, so the simple method of sticking on 50mm of
insulation is out.

The only other way I can think of is to insulate the underside, but that
means a lump sticking down from the ceiling!

Any ideas, please?
--
Peter.
The gods will stay away
whilst religions hold sway

Is there a flat area in the loft, around the hatch? You could make a
foot deep upside-down box out of 50mm Celotex, just larger than the
hatch, and pull it down overhead to cover the whole hatch and ladder
arrangement before you stow it. When you pull the ladder down, go up
it and push the box out of the way (Celotex weighs about the same as
David Cameron's brain). That way the whole hatch and ladder is on the
warm side of the insulation, when it's stowed. I'd fix the box
together with low-expansion PU foam and drywall screws.

Cheers
Richard