Up The Ladder to The Roof

Another one of the construction jobs we're having done as part of getting the house ready for our retirement is the installation of a staircase up to the attic, so that we can make proper use of the storage space it offers and don't have to rely on a stepladder for access (especially as we get older and creakier). Note that this is not an attic conversion: the pitch of the roof is too shallow to allow for that, even if one were to insert dormer windows (which we couldn't, given that we're in a conservation area and prohibited from construction work which would have a visible impact on the external streetscape).

The builder we've contracted, Daniel, comes from Loughton in Essex, and was recommended to us by a neighbour who'd engaged him to rebuild and enlarge her kitchen (she was similarly looking to adapt her house for her retirement). As well as the staircase to the attic, he's installed a dividing wall and shelves in our new understairs cupboard and constructed a false ceiling to hide the pipes from the boiler in our new conservatory; he started work on the staircase a couple of days ago, and was here today (apparently he prefers to work a six-day week, unless his clients say otherwise) to finish the risers and treads, apply a backing to conceal the woodwork, and block up the existing hatch. Below are some photographs showing the progress so far; he'll be back next week to apply plaster to the backing, construct the new hatch cover and install some railings and a banister to prevent users of the staircase from tumbling off to the side. Then it will be down to us to paint and carpet it (more DIY for my retirement!).

"Stairway to heaven," as Judith calls it. She is obviously a lady who knows that if the stores are all closed she can still get what she came for.