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I have a boarded area in the loft for storage but I need to re-do the insulation. As I see it there are 2 options =
1) lift the existing boards and replace the current rockwool with the relevant thickness Celotex / Kingspan, then rockwool round all the edges where there is no boarding.
2) lift the existing boards, elevate using 'Loft legs' and top-up the old insulation with new, replace boards on top of legs.
Option 2 seems easiest / cleanest, can anyone recommend some 'Loft legs'? There's loads on eBay but want something decent. Otherwise any counter arguments in support of option 1 appreciated.
I didn't like the look of loft legs so I laid 4x2 at 90º, secured with a 150mm screw through each intersection.
Isn't timber lattice as described above now frowned upon as a cold bridge? Having said that, it worked well enough at our last place.
Given the current cost of timber though, I'm also interested in the loft leg question and have been looking at loftzone stuff.
Watching with interest... our loft is already part boarded and we had the insulation topped up using the Green Homes Grant (RIP). The contractor just laid the top up straight over the boarding and i need to get round to rolling it back and raising the boards up on some legs so we can use the space again.
I'm not keen on adding more weight on to the ceiling joists with the timber lattice work as its only lightweight timber as it is.
I've installed the loft legs at a friends house. Can't remember where he got them from but easy to install and adds minimal weight to the loft area.
Make sure that the 1st couple of boards are laid square and you're away. If you're worried they'll be shakey/wobbly. They won't be, but you can fit a small L bracket to a wall, roof spar, purlin etc.. if you want to. He used the large T&G chipboard flooring sheets and getting them in the loft was the biggest PITA
Fitted loft legs (Wickes) three years ago. Rock solid, no movement whatsoever.
Used the Wickes XL (300mm?) Loft legs along with Tongue and groove boards in our (new build) house recently.
Quick, lightweight, rock solid (more so than I presumed).
Tip - pre fix all your screws into the loft leg bases (4 per leg) first, then mark up a timber battern with your measurements on. Goes down real quick.
Cheers all, the branded Loft Legs are cheaper in Wickes than eBay.
I’ve used the loft legs from Wickes. 4 holes are marked & are easiest pre-drilled before use. You only need to fix with 2 diagonal screws to the joists & they are v secure. I also mainly used their chipboard loft floor panels & some large sheets of chipboard from a dismantled wardrobe.
Important thing is ventilation gap between insulation and underside of boarding. Otherwise there will be condensation on the underside of the boards, followed by mould and other nasties.
Loft legs are a good solution, as long as not 100% height filled with insulation, then you've got ventilation.
I did my loft using cross timbers, 69x39 (?) CLS stud timber. One layer continuous timeber, 2nd layer 150mm blocks / 150mm gaps supporting 300mm loaft boards. More work, but before timber pices shot up, was cheaper than loft legs (CLS was like £2.50 a length at the time).
I used the loft legs you can buy in tool station. Top tip, there are two standard joist spacings, if you have the closer spacing (400mm?) you have to put them closer together at 400mm centres which means less raised floor for a given number of legs.
I decided to offset the legs on every other joist so I could get the optimum distance (600mm centres) when measured diagonally between the joists. So they are laid diamond fashion rather than squares :). You just need to use a few extra along the edges to ensure it's adequately supported at 600mm intervals.
Someone has suggested laying Celtic on top of the ceiling joists in massive slabs, then boarding directly on top. It doesn’t leave an air gap but for one reason or other didn’t think it would be a problem. Any thoughts?
It'll be better than nothing but as per post above, you've created a 'cold bridge' via the timber. Not terrible or anyhting like as bas a masonry but not ideal.
Honestly, the loft legs work really well and you can absolutely pile loads of roll type stuff in there wihtout having to cut to size or be too neat etc.
How much are the stilts each now?
I’ve cleared a load of junk and ready to start laying down some insulation, however there’s a fair bit of crap covering the in situ insulation (mostly in decent condition), mostly old mortar from the old roof? Is it worth removing the worst of this, or is there little benefit and just put the thick stuff straight over the top?
I need to do this. What to do with the stuff in the loft. No way Ammi taking it all back down again! Are there any rules against making shelves across the framework in the loft?
If you are going to use the loft space then it might be better to insulate the roof instead of the ceiling / loft floor.