Can you screw loft boards to joists?

The simplest way of boarding your loft is to screw the boards to the joists, using countersunk screws. The most obvious safety check is that the joists themselves are in good condition.

Should you screw down loft boards?

Once you're confident that you have placed your loft boards in a way that provides a safe area to stand on and store your things, it's time to screw them into place.

Can you put loft boards straight onto joists?

You can still board directly on to the joists if you want, but it is worth noting that this would not pass a building control inspection, because you wouldn't have the full 270mm depth of insulation required by regulations. Whatever you do, make sure you put as much insulation beneath the boards as possible.

What screws should I use for loft boards?

The best screws to use are 4mmx30mm countersunk multi-purpose screws. We have specific recommended screws on our web-site. You will need approximately 6 screws for each Loft Leg you are fitting.

Can you walk on loft boards?

Products such as Loft Legs consist of ultra-strong, recycled plastic legs that create a raised platform strong enough to walk on and support storage items. They are easy to fit, extremely lightweight, allow for pipes and cables to be present and do not create thermal bridging.

How To Lay Loft Boards, How To Fit Loft Boards, Install Loft Boards, Home DIY

Can I lay loft boards over insulation?

Placing loft boarding over insulation is an easy process and is essential if you want both storage and for your quilt insulation to work at its optimum performance. With the correct products, such as Loft Legs, this is easy and cost effective too.

Should I screw or nail floorboards?

If you want to have access to wiring and pipework through your floor, screws again are the way to go. Another great advantage is the fact that screws will pull the boards down better than any nails and hold without popping out. The tighter grip they provide makes screws the superior long term solution.

Should chipboard flooring be screwed?

Whilst chipboard flooring can be nailed, it is notorious for working loose and squeaking so screwing them down is the preferred method of fixing and really doesn't take long using a decent cordless driver. Expansion gaps should be left around the perimeter of the flooring to allow for temperature and humidity changes.

How should board ends be fastened to a joist?

Fix the board to each joist by driving a nail into the tongue of the board at a 45º angle just below the straight edge of the board. Recess all nails with a nail punch. If your boards do not stretch across the room, position two boards so that the ends butt together over one joist.

How much weight can loft joists take?

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.

How much weight can loft legs take?

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.

How do I strengthen my joists in my loft?

Can I board loft myself?

Boarding a loft is a process that is relatively simple, so it can be done by a homeowner or DIYer to keep costs down.

How do you install chipboard flooring on joists?

Chipboard should be laid lengthways across your joists, with the long edge of the board against the wall. You should align the board to allow for a 10mm expansion gap between the edge of the board and the wall. Don't worry, this gap can later be covered by skirting.

Should I glue and screw chipboard flooring?

Connecting chipboard flooring

If working with tongue and groove chipboard flooring panels, it is recommended to use adhesive to secure the chipboards. Firstly, apply a continuous bead of adhesive to the joists and noggins on which the chipboard panels will be laid.

What screws should I use for chipboard flooring?

Chipboard screws - to fix down in place after you lay chipboard flooring use 60mm wood screws . You will need to use 5 screws evenly spaced across each joist so you can use as many as 30 screws per board.

Is it OK to screw down floorboards?

Whether you need to lift floorboards to inspect the pipes below, to fix a creaking board or replace a section that has split or warped with wear, the most important rule is never to nail or screw down a loose board or start sawing before checking what's underneath first.

Should I leave gaps between floorboards?

Leaving the right expansion gap is an essential part of fitting any wooden floor. Whether it be solid wood, engineered wood or parquet block flooring, they all need an expansion gap to allow for natural movements when the wood expands and contracts with changes in the surrounding atmosphere.

What is special about flooring screws?

Flooring screws are suitable to use with a wide range of flooring including softwood, hardwood and fibreboard. They are easy to install, often with no pivot required and they are designed to prevent boards from splitting. Available in a wide range of sizes and finishes for both domestic and commercial projects.

How do you lay loft boards on joists?

The long sides of the loft boards should be laid at 90 degrees to the joists and the ends of every board should always meet on a ceiling or floor joist. All fixings to the joists or rafters should be done by screwing the panels down.

Can loft boarding cause damp?

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 put too much insulation in your attic?

It's possible to over-insulate an attic as too much will cause moisture buildup and eventually result in mold. Eventually, adding more insulation leads to diminishing returns in trapping heat as well.

Does boarding 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.

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.