How should loft boards fit 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 you fit loft boards directly 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.

Do you lay loft boards across joists?

Before this article, you wondered, "Can you put loft boards on joists?" While the answer is "Yes," raising your loft floor above the insulation and preventing the risks addressed above is the best way to do it. If you're ready to get the process started and need a helping hand, get in touch.

Should loft boards be staggered?

Lay Out Your Loft Boards

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.

Can you lay loft boards on top of 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.

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

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.

Can you walk on loft boards?

If your loft floor isn't sufficiently boarded, movement can be tricky. 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.

Can you lay loft insulation over joists?

If access is easy and your loft joists are regular, you can use rolls of mineral wool insulation. The first layer is laid between the joists – the horizontal beams that make up the floor of the loft – then another layer is laid at right angles to cover the joists and make the insulation up to the required depth.

Can you board a loft yourself?

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 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. Remember to make sure that the boards you decide on will actually fit through your loft hatch!

Does boarding loft add value?

The biggest loss of heat in a building is through the roof, and boarding your loft strengthens the insulation. A boarded loft is also likely to add value to your home — a mixture of energy efficiency, convenience and the simple fact that it looks a lot nicer than a loft with bare joists.

What happens if you compress loft insulation?

Ask the insulation manufacturers how performance is diminished if the insulation is squashed and they will simply tell you that it's an abuse of the product to squash it, which is correct. But, in both the residential and non-residential sectors, insulation is regularly squashed.

Should loft insulation go right to the edge?

Insulation should be continued right to the edge of the ceilings but it shouldn't block the eaves' ventilation. Ventilation is vital to ensure the necessary air movement to prevent condensation from water vapour, as this can lead to decay of the structural timbers.

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.

Do you screw boards to Loft Legs?

Loft Legs are screwed directly into the joists or trusses in a grid to raise the boards, the spacing of the Legs should correlate with the joints in the boards.

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

Can I board my loft and use it as a bedroom? If you're converting your loft into an extra bedroom, or a room that is considered a living space, the work will have to meet the government's Building Regulations. The room must be accessible via a permanent staircase and must have the correct fire regulations.

Can I cover my attic insulation with plywood?

Once the insulation is down, you can turn your attic into valuable storage space by covering the floor with plywood. It will also make the attic a safer place in which to walk.

Can loft insulation be laid over electric cables?

Whenever you read about laying loft insulation all the instructions state that insulation should not be laid over wiring. However, if you contact loft insulation companies, they all say the same thing...they lay over the cables!

Does loft boarding require planning permission?

Good news! If you're using your loft for storage, you don't need planning permission or building regulations. You can use a ladder to access the space which can fold up into the attic itself and be unintrusive when not in use.

Why are loft boards tongue and groove?

The loft boards or loft panels have tongue and grooved sides and ends. This allows one board to be slotted into the one next to it giving it greater strength over any length of floor not supported directly by floor or ceiling joists.

Is 400mm loft insulation too much?

We'd recommend everything in moderation. While some people argue that an over-insulated house could cause damp, mould and other issues. Typically, upping your loft insulation from 270 mm to 400 mm isn't really going to make a big difference, and so it's probably worth sticking with the lesser amount.