From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

I've just replaced a rotting window in my loft with uPVC, it wasn't too
hard. However, there's another one to do. This one is essentially
adjacent to the loft hatch, so there's nowhere to stand. The rest of the
loft is boarded.

So I can put boards down across the void while I'm working, but how
thick? The gap is 36" or 915mm and I'm not light, would lengths of
scaffold board be ok?
--
SS

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From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

On 18/09/2026 17:00, Simon Simple wrote:

I've just replaced a rotting window in my loft with uPVC, it wasn't too hard. However, there's another one to do. This one is essentially
adjacent to the loft hatch, so there's nowhere to stand. The rest of the loft is boarded.

So I can put boards down across the void while I'm working, but how
thick? The gap is 36" or 915mm and I'm not light, would lengths of
scaffold board be ok?

Or kitchen worktop?
--
SS

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From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

On 18/09/2026 17:00, Simon Simple wrote:

I've just replaced a rotting window in my loft with uPVC, it wasn't too hard. However, there's another one to do. This one is essentially
adjacent to the loft hatch, so there's nowhere to stand. The rest of the loft is boarded.

So I can put boards down across the void while I'm working, but how
thick? The gap is 36" or 915mm and I'm not light, would lengths of
scaffold board be ok?

yeah. that would be fine.
I wouldn't go with much less.
Maybe 18mm ply or chip...
--
"An intellectual is a person knowledgeable in one field who speaks out
only in others...rCY

Tom Wolfe

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From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

On 18/09/2026 17:24, Simon Simple wrote:

On 18/09/2026 17:00, Simon Simple wrote:

I've just replaced a rotting window in my loft with uPVC, it wasn't
too hard. However, there's another one to do. This one is essentially
adjacent to the loft hatch, so there's nowhere to stand. The rest of
the loft is boarded.

So I can put boards down across the void while I'm working, but how
thick? The gap is 36" or 915mm and I'm not light, would lengths of
scaffold board be ok?

Or kitchen worktop?

+1 sound plan.
--
"An intellectual is a person knowledgeable in one field who speaks out
only in others...rCY

Tom Wolfe

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From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

On 18 Sep 2026 at 17:39:32 BST, "The Natural Philosopher"
<tnp@invalid.invalid> wrote:

On 18/09/2026 17:00, Simon Simple wrote:

I've just replaced a rotting window in my loft with uPVC, it wasn't too
hard. However, there's another one to do. This one is essentially
adjacent to the loft hatch, so there's nowhere to stand. The rest of the
loft is boarded.

So I can put boards down across the void while I'm working, but how
thick? The gap is 36" or 915mm and I'm not light, would lengths of
scaffold board be ok?

yeah. that would be fine.
I wouldn't go with much less.
Maybe 18mm ply or chip...

If the chipboard is narrower than the two sides of the hatch that are not 36" apart and just supported by two opposite sides of the hatch 36" apart then I wouldn't be standing in the middle of the span of 18mm chipboard. Plywood should be ok but I'd prefer 24mm or more.
--

Roger Hayter
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From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

On 18/09/2026 19:42, Roger Hayter wrote:

On 18 Sep 2026 at 17:39:32 BST, "The Natural Philosopher" <tnp@invalid.invalid> wrote:

On 18/09/2026 17:00, Simon Simple wrote:

I've just replaced a rotting window in my loft with uPVC, it wasn't too
hard. However, there's another one to do. This one is essentially
adjacent to the loft hatch, so there's nowhere to stand. The rest of the >>> loft is boarded.

So I can put boards down across the void while I'm working, but how
thick? The gap is 36" or 915mm and I'm not light, would lengths of
scaffold board be ok?

yeah. that would be fine.
I wouldn't go with much less.
Maybe 18mm ply or chip...

If the chipboard is narrower than the two sides of the hatch that are not 36" apart and just supported by two opposite sides of the hatch 36" apart then I wouldn't be standing in the middle of the span of 18mm chipboard. Plywood should be ok but I'd prefer 24mm or more.

Well chipboard bends before it breaks. Sure ply is better, but if you
have some chip lying around...

Let's face it, most floors are 18mm chipboard and the joists are not
THAT close
--
"The great thing about Glasgow is that if there's a nuclear attack it'll
look exactly the same afterwards."

Billy Connolly

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From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

On 18/09/2026 17:00, Simon Simple wrote:

I've just replaced a rotting window in my loft with uPVC, it wasn't too hard. However, there's another one to do. This one is essentially
adjacent to the loft hatch, so there's nowhere to stand. The rest of the loft is boarded.

So I can put boards down across the void while I'm working, but how
thick? The gap is 36" or 915mm and I'm not light, would lengths of
scaffold board be ok?

Scaffold boards should normally be supported every 1.2m. In reality they
will do significantly further if you don't mind a bit of bend. So
spanning a gap like that would be fine.
--
Cheers,

John.

/=================================================================\
| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk | |-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk | \=================================================================/
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From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

On 18/09/2026 21:44, John Rumm wrote:

On 18/09/2026 17:00, Simon Simple wrote:

I've just replaced a rotting window in my loft with uPVC, it wasn't
too hard. However, there's another one to do. This one is essentially
adjacent to the loft hatch, so there's nowhere to stand. The rest of
the loft is boarded.

So I can put boards down across the void while I'm working, but how
thick? The gap is 36" or 915mm and I'm not light, would lengths of
scaffold board be ok?

Scaffold boards should normally be supported every 1.2m. In reality they will do significantly further if you don't mind a bit of bend. So
spanning a gap like that would be fine.

Thanks
--
SS

--- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

On 18/09/2026 17:39, The Natural Philosopher wrote:

On 18/09/2026 17:24, Simon Simple wrote:

On 18/09/2026 17:00, Simon Simple wrote:

I've just replaced a rotting window in my loft with uPVC, it wasn't
too hard. However, there's another one to do. This one is essentially
adjacent to the loft hatch, so there's nowhere to stand. The rest of
the loft is boarded.

So I can put boards down across the void while I'm working, but how
thick? The gap is 36" or 915mm and I'm not light, would lengths of
scaffold board be ok?

Or kitchen worktop?

+1 sound plan.

Yeah, sounds like I need to find a skip, or maybe some offcuts.
--
SS

--- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

On 19/09/2026 17:15, Simon Simple wrote:

On 18/09/2026 21:44, John Rumm wrote:

On 18/09/2026 17:00, Simon Simple wrote:

I've just replaced a rotting window in my loft with uPVC, it wasn't
too hard. However, there's another one to do. This one is essentially
adjacent to the loft hatch, so there's nowhere to stand. The rest of
the loft is boarded.

So I can put boards down across the void while I'm working, but how
thick? The gap is 36" or 915mm and I'm not light, would lengths of
scaffold board be ok?

Scaffold boards should normally be supported every 1.2m. In reality
they will do significantly further if you don't mind a bit of bend. So
spanning a gap like that would be fine.

Thanks

In the past I've used an aluminium ladder across a larger void - with
planks across the rungs to give your feet something safe to stand on.
The only problem is that its a narrow platform to work from.

IMO a couple or three scaffolding boards side be side spanning a metre
should be OK. Consider what happens on a building site - one guy working
with a ton of bricks stacked beside him.
--
mailto : news {at} admac {dot} myzen {dot} co {dot} uk
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From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

On 18 Sep 2026 at 21:44:44 BST, John Rumm wrote:

On 18/09/2026 17:00, Simon Simple wrote:

I've just replaced a rotting window in my loft with uPVC, it wasn't too
hard. However, there's another one to do. This one is essentially
adjacent to the loft hatch, so there's nowhere to stand. The rest of the
loft is boarded.

So I can put boards down across the void while I'm working, but how
thick? The gap is 36" or 915mm and I'm not light, would lengths of
scaffold board be ok?

Scaffold boards should normally be supported every 1.2m. In reality they
will do significantly further if you don't mind a bit of bend. So
spanning a gap like that would be fine.

If you have the space, well worth storing a couple of scaffold boards for just such events.

I bought a load from a nearby scaffolder for -u1/m - he was doing a stock rotation. They look fine to me - only cosmetic marks on most of them. But presumably there comes a time when they don't perform to spec - I'm just not sure when that is or how you tell. AI spectacularly useless on this occasion - gave a a figure of 3 to 4 years, but didn't know why or where they got that figure. But did point me to to some BS guidance on storage and moisture.
--
Cheers, Rob
Sheffield, UK
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