Loft boarding and broken lights - advice please!

[katewitch]

We had our loft boarded by a company at the end of September (they give a 5 year guarantee). Initially all seemed fine and we were happy with it, but this morning I've noticed that all the spotlights in our bathroom have been pushed out of place!

I presume this is because of having had it boarded? I've emailed them but they're closed at weekends so looking for some advice/reassurance here...

Some brief googling says that spotlights need "hats" to prevent this which its likely the new build developer could have skimped on...

I'm feeling quite worried about it as obviously in the meantime steam from the shower will be getting up there etc... and if its still waiting to be fixed when my in-laws come to stay in 2 weeks we'll hear no end of it I'm sure

Please help

Forgot the photo...

I’m making an assumption the boards are pushing down on the insulation which is pushing the downlight back into the bathroom.

Initially I’d be concerned about the downlights being covered by the insulation. Some are made that it’s perfectly safe to cover them, some particulary the older halogen bulb model must not be covered due to the heat given off by the bulb.

And yes the steam is getting into the insulation and the damp is then sitting on the plasterboard.

Exactly what I'm thinking, they're LED lights at least... I would have thought that the loft company would check but maybe as its a new build they assumed it would be fine?

Surely taking the boards up and making it good (providing hats or something) then replacing would be part of the guarantee?

The boarding is on legs above the insulation so I'm quite surprised that this has happened

Have you tried pushing them back up?

Was going to suggest pushing them back.
The fiddly option is to pull them down and cut away at the insulation with scissors, maybe the insulation can be torn out with tongs of some sort.
Just don’t get it on your skin or anywhere near your eyes.

Maybe the holes cut for the lights were fractionally large and the lights have just held in?

Yes but its not easy and they won't go all the way in

New build should have deep insulation if built to regulations.
Depending on how high the legs are you could still be squishing the insulation.

Is it possible the boards in the loft have failed above the bathroom?
Is there a particular heavy weight on the boards at the spot?

Loft Lids www.loftleg.com/loft-lid can be used to protect the fitting of the downlight but I’m guessing unless you asked for them the fitters decided they didn’t need them or cba

It's a bodge job.

I'm sure you didn't order a bodge job.

I'm sure the fitters didn't quote for them.

If they have been in that line of business for more than a week, they should be well aware of downlighters.

It it was me, I would look out for them and put an extra line in the quote "to fit and supply 6 no. British Standard BS476 Part 23 Fire-Resisting Downlighter hoods at £12" or whatever. Better quality job and a bit more profit. If the customer turned it down I could shake my head sorrowfully and explain that we couldn't accept responsibility for any disturbance.

it will be much more effort and cost to correct this bodge than if it had been done properly in the first place.

They had great reviews as well

I'm so stressed out, I've got so much that I'm dealing with at the moment and now this is just too much for me honestly

No reply to my email yet, will get DH to call them tomorrow

Hi, hope you don’t mind me resurrecting this thread. Did you get it sorted @katewitch ?

As an aside, we have just bought a new build and the developer has made it very clear that using the loft for storage is not permitted and if it is found to have been, any claims for damage or condensation will not be met.
For us it is not an issue, the loft is huge but we never had any intention to put anything up there as we have lots of storage elsewhere.