Is a great way to access heating pipes and electrical connections. But only if boards are planned out carefully. Deciding on the area of the loft to be floored can in large part be dictated by the design of your property’s roof construction. It can also dictate what will need to be done to complete the job. Joist and rafter roofs Diagram of a joist and rafter or ‘cut’ roof If you’re not used to handling sheets of boarding you will need some gloves… watch out for those splinters! We talk you through how to fit loft boards in your roof space using this system and it is designed to be easy to DIY, but you can also have it installed by LoftZone if you prefer. How Much Loft Insulation Do I Need?

The loft legs used in this guide are incredibly strong, and can handle loads up to 500kg per loft leg. However, before converting your loft into storage space you must first consider how much weight your loft joists are designed to handle. It is usually ok to store general household items such as Christmas trees, books, clothes, boxes, portable electrical items, etc. But if you plan to store something ridiculously heavy, then please do your research regarding your joists first! If you are only using it for lightweight storage I would go with the plastic legs. There are attic boards designed to be used with these legs (and get into the loft) which makes it quite simple but be prepared to make a few cuts around the rafters. If you potentially want to save some money places like B&Q will cut up a large sheet the boards for you but the savings and convenience over the little boards probably work out the same.No, only when the boarding is combined with a good quality insulation material such as mineral wool will you achieve a properly insulated loft. In addition, there must be a gap between the boarding and the insulation to allow for proper airflow, otherwise, condensation and its related problems could arise. Can I convert my loft into a storage space myself or should I leave it to the professionals? See how we calculated these figures here: More on how loft storage compares to self-storage 6. You could even make money by renting out your loft space! The benefits of all that extra storage space should also be pretty clear by now. With storage space at a premium, utilising any available space in your home is a no-brainer. And doing it the right way, with properly installed insulation could save you a lot of money in the long run. An excellent cordless drill popular with building contractors. This powerful Milwaukee drill comes with charger and case. Fortunately there are companies which sell down light covers that are fire retardant, and draft proofing. Plastic Down Light Covers

Loft flooring panels like these have tongue and groove fittings, a notch or groove along one length and one width, then a tongue to fit into the groove along the other edges, this gives a more secure joint than a straight edge would do.For a warm loft, you also need insulating material on the underside of the roof. This is another type of job that we do regularly and when it’s covered with boarding can create a nice clean finish. Does boarding the loft help insulation? Get an accurate quote from Instaloft Ltd Call now 01952 953695 Factors affecting the cost of loft boarding Below is a picture of loft legs being used with space blanket insulation. Loft legs are spaced about 30cm apart between every joist. Tongue and Groove chip board is then screwed to the loft legs.

Although most loft boarding jobs are relatively straightforward, there are a few additional costs to consider. These include: Loftleg shows that the siting of the legs needs to be very precise as up to four boards need to meet on any one of the legs. If your measurement of the position of one of the legs is a little out, this could affect the rest of the legs. This method also restricts the shapes you can build a floor to in your loft. You can use loft boards to create a barrier in your attic to stop heat from escaping and you can add loft insulation at the same time to maximise the effect. Loft boards are fitted by laying and securing them to the existing boards on the attic joists. If they touch the insulation, they lose their effectiveness, so ensure they are fitted high enough. If your home is more than 10 years old, its likely you will benefit from extra insulation. The largest majority of heat lost from a building is via the roof. The purpose of loft insulation is to slow down the heat loss process. Loft insulation can also save you a lot of money on heating bills per year.Loft Legs or loft stilts are loft flooring legs that raise your loft floor boards allowing extra height for your insulation to sit underneath without compressing it. Loft legs therefore maximise your heat saving performance as compressing insulation greatly reduces how effective it is. Loftlegs are strong and can support weights of 500kg however, they do not change the load bearing characteristics of a loft. Structural engineers recommend never storing more than 25kg per square metre of boarded area. Loading limit of existing ceiling structure should be confirmed by a structural engineer Push the Uni supports up into the cross beam, mid-way between the Tri supports and twist through 90 degrees.

Remember that working on a shower is notifiable work (you have to notify building control) and it has to be performed by a qualified electrician. We have a project to show you what is involved in an electric show insulation if you need more information. Alternatives to LoftZone Now screw the board into the legs beneath it using 2 per leg. This board should also have a total of 8 screws fixed into the loft legs. Lugging big hefty loft boards from the front garden up the stairs, and then into the loft is a large job in itself. Never mind then having to contend with manoeuvring the gear about up there whilst walking on floor joists. All whilst trying not to put your foot through the ceiling in the process (it happens a lot)! This makes the task a little more daunting than first imagined. Throw in the deep insulation found in many a house these days – that sits a lot higher than the top of the joists – and it certainly gets many head-scratching sessions going. Therefore many people admit defeat at this stage. Lay a piece of plywood (cut to suit) adjacent to the loft hatch. This will make it easier to climb into the loft via your ladder. The diagram below provides an example of where your plywood could be fixed down.Before you commit to the costs of boarding a loft, there are various factors to consider that can mean a higher final price. These include: I Want to Increase my Loft Insulation, but how do I Fit the Minimum Required Loft Insulation Material and Still Maintain my Storage Space? Read on: More about LoftZone StoreFloor Other types of loft boarding This image shows how the unusable eaves can be boarded up with access doors included