Loft flooring for the ultimate newbie.

S

systematic

Joined
20 Nov 2010
Messages
59
Reaction score
11
Location
Manchester
Country
United Kingdom
Hi Community,

I recently had an entire Chimney stack removed (2 x Chimney breasts - one in the living room and one in the bedroom AND the chimney on the roof). The loft is a mess - dust and black soot in many places, bricks scattered in random places, insulation curled and full of dust etc. In fact, here is a video I took this morning spanning across the loft as I am stood on the hatch ladder:


From this video, are you able advise what joists I currently have? I think they are 3x2s.

What I would like
  • Be able to put in thicker insulation than whats already in there. I think thee existing insulation is 100mm or less.
  • Strengthen the overall structure so that i can confidently install this floorboard - https://www.wickes.co.uk/Wickes-P5-...pboard-Flooring---18-x-600-x-2400mm/p/164516#. I chose this because my joists run 400mm apart.
  • Be able to use this as a storage space initially but then perhaps change it in the future to a living area like a bedroom maybe? I am not too fussed about not being able to get a bedroom but I am forward thinking to learn my options.
What I dont want:

  • I would like to avoid using loft legs. I appreciate that using timbers will not give me the 270mm insulation height that is standard. However, as long as I can get something thicker than what i already have, I will be happy.

What I dont know and need your help with

  • Given the above, do I run 4x2, 6x2 or larger pieces of timber next to to the existing 3x2 joists?
  • Given the above, do I run 4x2, 6x2 or larger pieces of timber perpendicular to the existing 3x2 joists?
  • Given the above, do I run 4x2, 6x2 or larger pieces of timber next to AND perpendicular to the existing 3x2 joists?
  • How long should these be?
  • Do the new timbers get glued to the existing 3x2 joists, screwed or both?
  • The new timber will add more weight, do I need to be worried about this?
Thank you very much for your support!
 
Last edited:
Personally, I don't think there's much point putting in joists for a possible future loft conversion without a full design, also, you have nowhere to pick up the outer ends. You could mess about with fixing bits on existing joist etc but you only get a marginal improvement in strength, probably best just using the legs so you don't compromise the insulation and keeping the heavier stuff over the central wall.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top