How do you correctly insulate a loft? Do you lose your storage space if you insulate correctly? Do you put loft boarding over insulation? This guide outlines the various do’s and don’ts of insulating a loft.
Heat rises, and at least 25% of it is lost through the roof in an uninsulated home (energy saving trust).
A report from the DECC found that only 65% of English homes have sufficient levels of loft insulation. This can lead to unnecessary energy consumption and lost heat from the rooms in a home.
Current government guidelines require 270mm depth of quilt insulation to acheive a U value of 0.16W/m²K to ensure the heat in a home is retained in the habitable rooms below. In some new build homes this can be even deeper to achieve even stricter thermal targets.
This results in the insulation being significantly deeper than the joists or trusses, making a loft dangerous to move around in and make it more difficult to board for storage.
How to Install Loft Boarding Over Insulation?
You may be wondering how to install boarding when deep quilt insulation in installed. Do you squash it down and screw the boards to the truss/joists? Do you remove the insulation? Or is there a better way?
Do’s
Create a raised boarded area above the insulation.
Use products such as Loft Legs to create a safe raised boarded area.
Know how to complete the process ahead of time so you avoid being one of the many loft owners who aren’t getting the most out of their insulation.
Check here for more tips on how to insulate a loft correctly.
Don’ts
Don’t forget to begin with a structural analysis to ensure your loft is capable of handling the additional storage weight. All lofts in new build homes will have been designed to carry storage loads of 25Kg per square metre plus the weight of a person walking in the loft (BS 6399-1:1996).
Don’t place insulation directly over downlights. Use a downlight cover such as a Loft Lid before rolling insulation over the fittings.
Don’t block any vents such as soffit vents with insulation.
Don’t squash the insulation as this can reduce its thermal performance by over 50%.
Don’t install loft boards directly to joists or trusses.
Don’t remove any insulation as this can reduce the thermal performance of the loft.
Check here for more loft boarding mistakes to avoid.
Where to Get Help With Loft Insulation
Installing 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.
Loft Legs have been designed to be a quick, cost effective DIY solution, so you don't need a professional installer to install them. If however, you would like someone to price up the full job and carry out the work, Loft Leg have a list of recommended installers covering most of the United Kingdom. The recommended installer list can be found here.
Whether you are a DIYer or not, any we are available help you with your project. Our office number (01282 861001) is manned from 9am until 4pm every weekday.
Browse our range of loft products and contact us today for more information.