Loft boarding

[Hudson1984]

Hi all,

just after some advice just in case i'm planning to make a balls up.

Intending to board the loft.

As it stands there's nothing up there, usual insulation between joists, that's it

I don't want to remove the old insulation, just don't want the hassle.

My intention is to put joists above the existing ones, at 90 degrees i.e. cross them over.
then install new insulation between these new beams. Once that's done, board over the top.

Am I missing anything?

 

[JohnD]

What width, depth and unsupported span are the old?

Do you want it for light storage, or a habitable room?

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

No not missing anything assuming its just for the Christmas decs/sex doll etc.

 

[Hudson1984]

What width, depth and unsupported span are the old?

Do you want it for light storage, or a habitable room?

Na, just storage, a place for all the **** we don't want to throw away....i.e. mostly kids crap

no

awesome

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

mostly kids crap

You know your kids will just throw it out when you die right?

 

[Hudson1984]

You know your kids will just throw it out when you die right?

yeah but until then I have a wife and that means I get "ohhh we can't throw that"
so in the loft it can live.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Sometimes stuff my missus ask me to store up there doesn't quite make it through the hatch!

 

[cdbe]

You'd be better focusing on getting the insulation right, ideally 100mm between the joists and a continuous (not in between more wood) 200mm laid on top at 90°.

This is generally achieved using stilts.

Alternatively, 100mm celotex laid directly onto the existing joists with some thin plywood or OSB on top to form a floor is worth considering - obviously only in the area you plan to use.

 

[JohnD]

I prefer counterbattens to stilts. They spread the load better and add rigidity when the deck is tightly screwed down.

I used to favour rigid foam, but mineral wool does not burn, nor does it emit toxic smoke.

I noticed that the foam makers removed their adverts for loft flooring shortly after Grenfell.

 

[Hudson1984]

I prefer counterbattens to stilts. They spread the load better and add rigidity when the deck is tightly screwed down.

I used to favour rigid foam, but mineral wool does not burn, nor does it emit toxic smoke.

I noticed that the foam makers removed their adverts for loft flooring shortly after Grenfell.

Yeah same here, I don't want to rely on plastic things really.

our last house was boarding and the guys who did it built counterbattens and replaced all the insulation - i'm not going as far this time and they're too busy to do it so just gunna do me best.

 

[jackeeeyyy]

I did this job last weekend.

I used 89mm CLS and laid them upright, perpendicular to the joists on the floor, screwed them down on a skew.
I laid these every 400mm then used tongue and groove OSB boards on top.

Don't use the plastic loft stilts, they'll warp and buckle over the years, same as chip board.

 

[Hudson1984]

Yeah I made a decent start, I replaced any insulation I took up with 100mm celotex, just so I didn’t crush the thicker stuff that was there.

mused 145mm joists and covered with 22mm flooring pretty pleased with my start