Before or after birth, loft boarding?

[hflsthu]

Hi I'm new to the forum so if posting in the wrong place please do tell me.

I'm 7 months pregnant. We are trying to make more space for the baby, so decided to make use of the loft. It's never been used or done up before, so the first step is to lay the loft panels down. I have got two handymen to quote and the work would take about a day.

But my husband and I can't agree on the timing of the project: he believes making changes to the house during pregnancy is bad omen, so we should wait till the baby is born. I think it's a bad idea as all the dust and dirt would be very harmful for the baby, and potentially induce asthma? So must have it done before it's born. He doesn't think it's a problem, as long as the baby and I get out of the house for a day all the dust should settle.

I know it's a really trivial and ridiculous debate, but how can I win an argument with a superstitious person? Help!

[wowfudge]

Good grief - there will be enough upheaval with a new baby in the house without having work done as well! Get the loft boarded before you have the baby. In fact, do any jobs that need doing now before the baby comes along.

[SoupDragon]

Putting boards down in the loft for storage isn't a big, dirty job.

Making changes in the house also is not a bad omen. Is he planning on not moving a single item until the baby is born? Moving stuff is a change...

[SoupDragon]

You won't be able to use the loft as a proper room though.

That is far more major job requiring all sorts of structural changes.

[hflsthu]

Yes we're only thinking of using the loft for storage, not converting it into a room. I dread to think how much argument would go on if it's a big project like loft conversion!

[specialsubject]

he believes in omens??????

[QuiteQuietly]

OP, I mean this with the greatest respect to your DH, but is he a bit lazy and looking for any excuse not to do it? And then hoping you do it while you are on maternity leave? Because he couldn't possibly expect you to do it while heavily pregnant, but once the baby is out and you obviously have nothing else to do all day...

[hflsthu]

Ha, I didn't really think of that; let me run this by him and see how he responds :-D

[hflsthu]

From a pure health perspective, would a loft boarding job do much harm to the baby? SoupDragon mentioned that putting loft panels down isn't that dirty, so maybe I'm just over worrying?

[SoupDragon]

Not unless the baby is up in the loft :).

I guess there will be some dirt as the guys doing the job will probably be grubby but it's basically a case of sawing some panels to fit and fixing them all to the joists. It's not a job that creates a lot of dust in the air, from memory.

I'd still want to get it out of the way before having the baby, purely due to noise and hassle.

[Patilla]

Before before before.

Otherwise you'll still be looking at a pile of boards when you've got a toddler!

Besides why would you want to lose out on all those precious snuggly baby cuddles and opportunities to nap when they are newborn

[hflsthu]

Precisely, he only needs to babysit on his own for one day to realise what a bad decision he's making now!

[erin99]

Before! We had about 5 years off DIY when DC were small.

[Suttonmum1]

I'd always make boarding the loft and fitting a loft ladder and lighting the first job in a new house. Makes life so much easier. However you should take a look at the insulation before you do it. Loads of offers from power companies for free/cheaper insulation at the moment I believe.

[IssyStark]

Definitely get done before - we've only just got back to doing anything in the house now that ds2 turned 3 last year (and ds1 turned 8) because there is enough chaos without adding to it! That said we had new windows installed when ds1 was a few weeks old (in February!). It was an odd day but I wrapped him up well and moved around from room to room. We only did it then because we got a excellent deal from a door to door salesman who caught us both when we were off on mat and pat leave.
A useful loft is always an asset in a house. But as mentioned above, do make sure your quote includes putting in insulation under the boards.

[iamthenewgirl]

Our loft was boarded when we moved in but we wanted new insulation and the two don't work together. Up came the boards. DH was gutted!

Now we have a small area for storage in the loft.

Do you need to store stuff up there? Lofts tend to end up as dumping grounds in my experience.

[MrsMook]

Before!

We moved when DS was 6 months and our first DIY job was insulating then boarding the loft. The extra insulation meant that DH has to add to the height of the joists. If you plan on keeping baby equipment, it will be handy to be able to put it up there as soon as it is done with. Similarly for things like maternity clothes.

[MinesAPintOfTea]

You aren't likely too want people in doing it whilst in the early bleeding stage of maternity leave. So at least two months past-birth (varies but that's not unusual before feeling normal again).

Do it before.

[cakeandchampagne]

Do it well before your due date. You could ask your doctor. :)

[AlexaAmbidextra]

Just get it done before the birth. I’ve just had mine done and a loft ladder fitted and it took just half a day. He put dust sheets down on the landing so there was no mess.