I am going to board my loft after it is insulated to current standards today- i have been told that i will have to use "loft Stilts" (http://loftstoragestilts.com/) as if i use 3x2 rafters the height...l work?
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Loft Boarding / Insualtion
- Thread starter andyroo1
- Start date
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The stilts have a few down sides. You have to use them at 400-600 centres wherever you're boarding not just a few so they're expensive. Also they don't spread the load like joists do. Just fit 4X2's and squeeze a couple of layers of insulation in.
But its only about 3 ft gap inbetween each support point- seems really costly and heavy and the insulation is too thick for the 4x2 to accommodate it.
Do you think this may work?
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Do you think this may work?
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Sorry for the late reply – been away on holiday – i guess you’ve already done the job, but for future reference....
There are several options for this type of job:
• You can use extra timber joists like freddymercurystwin rightly says. They are cheap but heavy, and work ok.
• You can use Diall Loft Stilts http://loftstoragestilts.com/ or Wickes (?) Loft Legs like you were planning to do. They hold the boards up but the smaller the boards are, the more you need, and so that can be time-consuming. You also need to check your joists are evenly spaced, otherwise it can be difficult to fit the boards on to the top of the legs/stilts (if the joists are too far apart, the boards may not reach the stilts). Individually, they’re quite cheap, and they are very light. I don’t know how safe they are to walk upon.
• You can use the LoftZone StoreFloor www.loftzone.co.uk, which is faster to install, also lightweight and also forms a very strong deck, ok to walk upon. But it’s not as cheap as the others.
• Or you can go down a different route and use insulated boards, like this one http://www.space-insulation.com/board.html . You would usually need 2 or 3 on top of each other to meet the same U-value as the 270mm of wool quilt. You’re not meant to walk on them.
Another point, I’ve been told that you should leave an air gap between the insulation and the underside of the boards, and allow air to flow between the two. This is to reduce the chance of condensation building up on the underside of the boards, and dripping down below. (There’s a risk the dew point could form there). So if you’re using timber or the stilts/legs, then you’d need to build them up higher than the insulation. The StoreFloor already does this and the insulated boards don’t need them I guess.
How did you get on with your install?
There are several options for this type of job:
• You can use extra timber joists like freddymercurystwin rightly says. They are cheap but heavy, and work ok.
• You can use Diall Loft Stilts http://loftstoragestilts.com/ or Wickes (?) Loft Legs like you were planning to do. They hold the boards up but the smaller the boards are, the more you need, and so that can be time-consuming. You also need to check your joists are evenly spaced, otherwise it can be difficult to fit the boards on to the top of the legs/stilts (if the joists are too far apart, the boards may not reach the stilts). Individually, they’re quite cheap, and they are very light. I don’t know how safe they are to walk upon.
• You can use the LoftZone StoreFloor www.loftzone.co.uk, which is faster to install, also lightweight and also forms a very strong deck, ok to walk upon. But it’s not as cheap as the others.
• Or you can go down a different route and use insulated boards, like this one http://www.space-insulation.com/board.html . You would usually need 2 or 3 on top of each other to meet the same U-value as the 270mm of wool quilt. You’re not meant to walk on them.
Another point, I’ve been told that you should leave an air gap between the insulation and the underside of the boards, and allow air to flow between the two. This is to reduce the chance of condensation building up on the underside of the boards, and dripping down below. (There’s a risk the dew point could form there). So if you’re using timber or the stilts/legs, then you’d need to build them up higher than the insulation. The StoreFloor already does this and the insulated boards don’t need them I guess.
How did you get on with your install?
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