Boarding Out An Attic

Add insulation at the same time to maximise the effect.

Boarding out an attic. Standard boards are commonly available in two sizes. If they touch the insulation they lose their effectiveness so ensure they are fitted high enough. Bearing in mind it s a two man job the cost of boarding a loft sits between about 1 000 to 1 500 including materials. Loft boards are fitted by laying and securing them to the existing boards on the attic joists.

Loft boards loft panels and loft flooring in the loft or attic must only be done to store items such as empty suitcases. The table s below giv e you estimates of how much you ll pay a professional. Boarding out your loft can provide a safe and clean storage space for all your boxes of memories christmas decorations extra clothes and anything else you can t bear to part with. 2 400 x 600mm and 1 220 x 320mm.

Take measurements in metres this makes it easier when you are buying boards. Measure the area you plan to board out multiply the width of the loft by its length. Unless your loft or attic has been converted it is not designed to carry loads heavier than this. Squashing loft insulation stops it from working the loftzone s.

Get the right tools and equipment. As standard boarding is placed onto the joists of your roof or onto raised timber this will inevitably squash your insulation to a greater or lesser degree. And either 18 or 22mm thick. Use loft boards to create a barrier in your attic to stop heat escaping.

Then you ll need to build a grid like structure that can hold up the plywood flooring. Although someone who has the correct tools can easily board out a loft it s simpler to hire a professional. If you fix the floor boards to the existing joists there will not be room for the insulation and if you squash the insulation you make it much less effective. The down side to this is that boarding out a loft or attic floor is made more difficult with an increased depth of loft or attic insulation.

Before you start creating a floor for your attic you must make sure that it can handle the additional load. In order to properly board your loft you ll need a jigsaw and workbench hammer screwdrivers drill tape measure and pencil.