Putting down boards to convert your loft into a usable storage space is a simple task which does not normally require any planning permission and should be affordable and manageable even for a DIY beginner.

Can you lay loft boards directly onto joists?

Can I Board directly onto joists? The simple answer is no. … Therefore, boarding directly onto joists would mean in many cases having reduced insulation in between the joists (75mm – 100mm) or squashing insulation down where there is boarding from 270mm to 100mm.

How do you board a loft cheaply?

For a cheaper way to board than Diy store boards, buy larger flooring boards and cut them down yourself, better value for money especially if you can pick them up from a merchant. You can then measure loft hatch opening and lay in longer lengths, depending on height to pull boards up.

How long does it take to board a loft?

The average time it takes to install loft boarding is between one and two days. Installing loft boarding is a delicate undertaking that is best performed by a professional. Loft boarding is an ideal and cost-effective, space-saving solution.

How much weight can loft boards hold?

Typically the joists in a loft will support about 40kg/m2 of weight so providing you’re storing less than this you won’t need to do any additional work to strengthen the joists.

Does boarding your loft add value?

It most certainly does. The more storage space your home has to offer, the more value is added to you home. Loft boarding can increase the floor space in your home by up to 50% and using a fitted loft ladder, will offer a safe and easily accessible storage space.

Can you walk on loft boards?

Never stand on the plasterboard as this won’t bear your weight and only stand on the ceiling joists if you have to. For easier movement in the loft, we recommend using walk boards (also known as crawl boards) laid across the joists. … These walk boards can be lifted and moved as you work around the loft.

Does boarding loft increase insulation?

Boarding provides extra thermal insulation for your roof space. … Caution: if your insulation extends above the level of the joists, laying loft boards directly over it might squash it and decrease performance, so raising the joists might be needed.

Can I board my loft and use it as a bedroom?

If you’re converting your loft into an extra bedroom, a playroom or some other room, the work will have to meet the government’s Building Regulations. … The room must be accessible via a fixed staircase, not a retractable ladder. New joists must be added if needed to support the extra floor weight.

Should loft boards be staggered?

Try to lay out your loft boards in a staggered pattern. This is important because you don’t want the joints in all your loft boards to meet up as this could compromise its structure. The best screws for the job include 4mm x 30mm countersunk multi-purpose screws.

Article first time published on

How do you strengthen a loft floor?

  1. Clear the Joist Spaces. Pull out all insulation and any debris from all of the joist spaces so you can see the full length of each joist, including where it meets the exterior walls. …
  2. Measure the Old Joists. …
  3. Cut the Sister Joists. …
  4. Install the Sister Joists. …
  5. Install Blocking.

How many loft boards do I need?

Simple enough in theory – you just need to multiply the width of your loft by its length. You will also need to measure the distance between your joists or trusses. With your measurements to hand, you can now work out how many loft boards you’ll need.

Does loft boarding cause condensation?

How Standard Loft Boarding Can Damage Your Property. Can cause damp – as standard boarding is placed onto the joists of your roof, this will inevitably squash your insulation, which stops it from working and will cause condensation to build up as it doesn’t have room to breathe.

Can you do a loft conversion yourself?

However, a loft can give you the extra space you need without extensions that consume part of your garden. Before laying out a simple step by step procedure to follow when converting your loft, note that it’s a difficult undertaking that require extensive experience, and “I can do it myself” attitude.

How many loft legs do I need per board?

Step 8 – Installing the Loft Boards Use 2 screws per loft leg to fix the boards down. One board should have a total of 8 screws in it.

Can attic floor support weight?

If you’re talking about the floor of an attic, then it may, or may not, support the weight of a person. … If you’re talking about walking on the roof and therefore relying on the roof truss and attic to support you, it highly likely that the roof will support you. But it would be best if you still didn’t walk on it.

How much weight can loft legs take?

Features. Though loft legs can support high weights up to 500kg we would recommend no more than 50kg per m² due to load bearing characteristics of a loft.

Is 18mm chipboard OK for flooring?

Chipboard flooring is available in 18mm and 22mm thicknesses, and the tongue & groove sheets are 2400m x 600mm (approx. 8′ x 2′) in size. The sheets use high-density particleboard and are suitable for both domestic and commercial flooring.

How thick should loft boards be?

Standard loft boards come in two different sizes; 2,400mm x 600mm and 1,220mm x 320mm; both of which are 18mm thick.

Does loft boarding require planning permission?

Planning Permission Good news! If you’re using your loft for storage, you don’t need planning permission or building regulations. … If you’re considering boarding your attic as an extra living space, you usually need Building Regulations to ensure the conversion is safe.

Do you need building regs for loft boarding?

Building regulations approval is required to convert a loft or attic into a liveable space. This section provides guidance for making alterations to the loft space of an existing house which is no more than two storeys high.

How much weight can a new build loft take?

While the Loftzone flooring system can hold a massive 500kg per m2 for loft storage we recommend you store approx 25kg per m2 due to the constraints of the joists or truss structures. This is more than ample for most uses.

Why is my loft room not a bedroom?

But when it comes to being a bedroom, a converted loft room cannot be called a bedroom merely because it offers enough space to fit a bed in, or because one has been put in there: a loft needs to be converted for the purposes of being a sleeping area, and in accordance with building regulations, in order to be called a …

Can I turn my loft into a playroom?

The big thing that parents worry about, however, is whether the loft is a safe place to create such a new structure. … Done properly, by a professional loft conversion company, a loft playroom is perfectly safe.

Can you board a whole loft?

The answer is, almost certainly, YES. Most attic spaces can be boarded, although the job is not always completely straightforward and it might be a good idea to get help from professionals dealing with loft boarding and loft conversions to make sure you make the best of what you have.

Can I plasterboard my loft?

When insulating a loft, the most practical solution is to place most of the insulation between the rafters, with a smaller additional layer fixed to the underside of the rafters. Insulated plasterboard is useful for this purpose. Plasterboard is available with a wide variety of rigid insulation products bonded to it.

Are loft joists load bearing?

Lofts weren‘t really built as load bearing rooms – or certainly not built strong enough to inhabit – so if you’re looking to house anything heavier than a few bags of old clothes and seasonal items, you’ll need to strengthen your loft. …

Can I convert my loft without planning?

Most loft conversions can be carried out without planning permission, but you’ll still need to satisfy building regulations.

How do I stop damp in my loft?

Avoid blocking air vents, open up window trickle vents, don’t cook/bath/shower without thinking about ventilation. Don’t dry clothes on radiators during cold weather spells, if possible use a tumble dryer and if not, keep a window at least partially open to vent the moisture.

Should loft insulation be pushed up to the eaves?

Don’t pack it in: squashing insulation to fit the space seriously compromises its effectiveness. Also avoid pushing the insulation into the eaves to keep ventilation paths at the edge of the roof well aired and roof timbers dry.

Does compressing loft insulation make it less effective?

When you compress fiber glass batt insulation, the R-value per inch goes up, but the overall R-value goes down because you have less inches or thickness of insulation. … So, you don’t get the full R-value on the label, but the insulation still works perfectly well if all you’ve done is compress it.