Loft Space Questions

[nordberg73]

Hi,

I've got quite a large loft space that at present is not really usable. It also needs insulating as there is precisely zero up there at the moment. I've had a loft specialist - if there is such a thing - give it the once over with a view to getting at least 270mm insulation up there and also boarding it out for storage. Reading through this and other forums, it seems there is a variety of opinion on how best to achieve this.... Some suggest simply cross battening the loft and then secure the loft boards to this. I've also seen suggestions that a "shadow" network of joists and battens is installed as below:

So.... Has anyone got any suggestions as which would be the most suitable for my requirements? If I were to simply cross batten it, is it best to do this before or after the new insulation is fitted?

Thanks in advance...

 

[DevilDamo]

What will this area be used for.. storage or bedroom/study?

Will it have a fixed/permanent staircase?

 

[nordberg73]

What will this area be used for.. storage or bedroom/study?

Will it have a fixed/permanent staircase?

Purely storage. I intend to have a Fakro loft ladder installed before starting the job...

 

[DevilDamo]

Ok, so why do you need insulation up there? And why do you need a loft specialist? Yes, there are such people/companies but they wouldn't necessarily get involved with a loft room to be used for storage as there's nothing in it for them. Just board it out and be done with it.

 

[nordberg73]

Ok, so why do you need insulation up there? And why do you need a loft specialist? Yes, there are such people/companies but they wouldn't necessarily get involved with a loft room to be used for storage as there's nothing in it for them. Just board it out and be done with it.

You've lost me....

I need insulation up there because I don't want my hard earned cash to spent on heat going out of the house through the roof.....

I don't need a loft specialist...I want to do it myself. The guy I had advice from is a friend of a friend who was doing some other work for me and suggested the battening technique I'm asking about.

Erm yes, I plan to board it - which is what my whole question in about.....

 

[Static]

Cross battening is the easiest and thus cheapest solution.. can either lay some insulation between existing joists then cross batten, and ad extra insulation between cross battens then board over.. remember to leave some gap to allow air to circulate.. alternatively cross batten and then feed the insulation under the battens (easier said than done)..

This is just for storage.. the photo showing sisters joists etc etc is often done as a stepping stone towards loft conversion into habitable space..

 

[DevilDamo]

Ahhh I see.

In your first post, you never mentioned insulating the loft to cut down on bills, etc... And then you mentioned a loft specialist hence me then assuming you're converting the loft to habitable accommodation.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Ok, so why do you need insulation up there?

Quoted for posterity!

 

[mointainwalker]

What height are your existing joists ?

 

[nordberg73]

What height are your existing joists ?

4inch

I'm thinking cross battening it with 4in and then flooring it with 18mm pressure treated contract flooring (8x2) would do nicely.

 

[mrklaw]

muppet question incoming...

When I first moved into our house about 8 years ago, I wanted to board out our loft. I did about 25% of it - just enough to get some storage. I just got some chipboard from B&Q and screwed it to the roof joists.

My wife now wants me to board the rest as we need more storage. In the meantime we have had additional insulation fitted to the open part of the loft, so the insulation rises above the joists.

Can I not just squash the insulation down and lay chipboard like before? Whats all this talk of cross-battening and airflow?

 

[mointainwalker]

You can do what you want but the insulation effect will be reduced : probably to what unsquashed insualtion would give you at the same height.