This is what I did in my current house, the loft board move a little but I am only using it for storage.
Loft boarding
- Thread starter Mercenary Keyboard Warrior
- Start date
This is what I did in my current house, the loft board move a little but I am only using it for storage.
Ooh interesting thread. I've been mulling over insulating and boarding out the loft properly - currently there's zero insulation.
I've been told I can't get it insulated for free because between the joists it's peppered with broken bits of concrete/rubble or something. Any idea if this was a done thing or if it's just crumbled off the roof over time (it was built in ~1860)?
If I can clear the rubble then I'm thinking I can get it insulated for free and then either use stilts (bought or DIY) or just rip up the free insulation and install the PIR board stuff instead for boarding it out. Height isn't really an issue as at the highest point there's about 9 foot of clearance but I figured PIR/chipboard is the better way of doing it. I can then stick the free insulation back on top of the PIR stuff in the areas where I'm not storing anything for a bit more insulation.
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What would be the best way to get rid of this type of rubble? Would a Henry do it or would I need something more industrial? (pretty sure this isn't live.. I've avoided touching it just in-case
.)
Got to sort out this massive wasps next as well (preferably without fire). I don't think there's any in there.. circled is a single wasp!
I've been told I can't get it insulated for free because between the joists it's peppered with broken bits of concrete/rubble or something. Any idea if this was a done thing or if it's just crumbled off the roof over time (it was built in ~1860)?
If I can clear the rubble then I'm thinking I can get it insulated for free and then either use stilts (bought or DIY) or just rip up the free insulation and install the PIR board stuff instead for boarding it out. Height isn't really an issue as at the highest point there's about 9 foot of clearance but I figured PIR/chipboard is the better way of doing it. I can then stick the free insulation back on top of the PIR stuff in the areas where I'm not storing anything for a bit more insulation.
. What would be the best way to get rid of this type of rubble? Would a Henry do it or would I need something more industrial? (pretty sure this isn't live.. I've avoided touching it just in-case
.)Got to sort out this massive wasps next as well (preferably without fire). I don't think there's any in there.. circled is a single wasp!
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Holy ****! You need a nuke for that haha
Just throw an object at it, be prepared to run if you see a mass black cloud though.
Just throw an object at it, be prepared to run if you see a mass black cloud though.
And the cobwebs eughhhh. Run!I know, and I don't do spiders at all 
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That photo was taken in 2013 (time goes so quick!), it looked like the nest was dead as I didn't hear anything going on. From what I read wasps don't go back to an old abandoned nest so I should be OK now.
Will poke it with a stick from a distance first mind!
.That photo was taken in 2013 (time goes so quick!), it looked like the nest was dead as I didn't hear anything going on. From what I read wasps don't go back to an old abandoned nest so I should be OK now.
Will poke it with a stick from a distance first mind!
I you want to get rid of the rubble your best bet is a broom, dustpan and brush.
The wasps nest perhaps just try and make a deal with them where they wont bother you if you don't bother them. A sacrificial bag of haribo thrown over their side probably wouldn't hurt either.
The wasps nest perhaps just try and make a deal with them where they wont bother you if you don't bother them. A sacrificial bag of haribo thrown over their side probably wouldn't hurt either.
Ahh good idea. I gather you lose ~50% of the insulation properties compressing it but then the stuff on top would more than make up for it. Sounds like the easiest plan all round cheers.
I'm reluctant to do that because it would take hours
. The loft is fairly big and there's a lot of rubble stuff. Guess I chould just bite the bullet and get it over with though.I'm sure someone on here's Dad kills them for a living, I'll have to enquire
(GD joke).Don't compress it, you run the fibrewool stuff between the joists but only to the height of them, then the PIR sits across the joists. That way it won't squash it down and between the wool and PIR you should have a good enough thermal barrier.
I'd double check that wire/wiring and consider if you are likely to need any of the electricals (easily) accessible at a later date - used to live in IIRC an 1885 built terrace house where much of the wiring was done around like late 1940s or something and some of it in the ceilings/loft was actually dangerous.
Cheers for the heads up. I need to clear all the crap from up there first then investigate how dodgy it looks.
Whilst old it should be pretty safe - the house was originally owned by my parents and my Dad would have either done the wiring himself (he was very competent) or likely with one of his friends who was a proper electrician for the fiddly parts.
Whilst old it should be pretty safe - the house was originally owned by my parents and my Dad would have either done the wiring himself (he was very competent) or likely with one of his friends who was a proper electrician for the fiddly parts.
Thats about 90mm? You can get rolls of fibrewool that come in a similar thickness. Just needs to be that deep.
I've just picked up my loft insulation, what a grim task it's going to be putting these in! Got them cheap so can't complain.
I was planning on being cheap and making use of the free Government insulation deals for the bulk of it then putting down the PIR type stuff for where I wanted to board it out. I gather they put in 270mm which is a fair bit higher than the joists. Think I'll just get it done then worry about boarding another day.
Is that a door on the left for scale? That looks like a rather large amount of work!
Is that a door on the left for scale? That looks like a rather large amount of work!
yeah had to take the bedroom door off when the carpet was fitted, haven't got round to shaving the bottom of it off and putting it back on yet.
Started putting those boards in last night, there is a lot but am just going to chip away at it doing an hour or two each evening.
Started putting those boards in last night, there is a lot but am just going to chip away at it doing an hour or two each evening.
I boarded 50% of our loft in the summer, I went with the loftzone stuff and I have to say it was a hard days work (2 of us)
but the results are excellent.
Just started doing mine with that stuff. Hardest part is my joists are a funny width so I have to cut the steels.
As you say, there's no need to stagger the boards, which will make access later easier if need be (hopefully not needed though!).
Ruddy expensive though but they have the odd 15% off sale.
I'm going with doubling up the joists, 3x2 on top of the existing 3x2, glued and screwed, will give me space for 140mm of celotex then, boards back on top. Also plan on fixing some legs/metal straps from the large purlins (i think they are called) to the new 3x2 to add some extra strength.