Attic Clearance

The Swiss term

The word regularly causes misunderstandings. In Switzerland the Estrich is the roof space above the top residential floor — a storage room, often uninsulated, with sloping ceilings and exposed beams. In Germany, by contrast, Estrich means the screed underlayer of a floor. Anyone requesting a quote across the border should make that clear, and English speakers should simply read Estrich as attic or loft.

Why attics are harder work than cellars

The material has to be carried downwards, usually over a steep wooden staircase or a ladder through a hatch. A lift practically never reaches the attic. With large pieces of furniture, the way down is often the real challenge; occasionally items have to be dismantled or a furniture hoist (Möbellift) used through the roof hatch.

On top of that, attics are hot in summer and cold in winter, often dusty and badly lit. That slows the work and requires breaks, which a serious calculation should take into account.

What to expect in a Swiss attic

Attics are long-term storage. Typical finds are moving boxes, old furniture, suitcases, Christmas decorations, curtains, books, children's toys and documents. Unlike in a cellar, the material is usually dry, so there is correspondingly more that can be resold — old furniture, books, collections, occasionally art.