Boarding loft

[Kathryan61]

Loft installation my hubby is handy diy- do u think it would be easy for home to do

It's easy enough to do, bear in mind the ceiling joists in modern houses are not specified to be load bearing and you will probably need to put the boards on legs so you don't crush the insulation, which impacts on the headroom. The insulation in my loft is 60cm+ deep, so these wouldn't be tall enough. www.screwfix.com/p/loftleg-xl-loft-storage-stilts-300mm-12-pack/907tl

If you want decent thickness insulation you normally have to raise the boards up.

But my guess is if you DIY it you will get a better job done than the pros, many of whom seem to think because it is out of the way and no one will really look at it is an excuse for a crap job.

it Is easy but really horrible as the insulation irritates the skin and lungs (at least rockwool type does). To mitigate this you can wear a disposable coverall and face mask. Also working in the eaves involves balancing in some awkward positions with low head height.

I am a good DIYer and look on the bright side of most jobs but insulting the loft (which I have done twice) was genuinely awful.

Yes, but not until late September as it will be too hot

I did it in my last house and it was fairly easy, the first couple of boards were the trickiest then I sat on those to fit the rest. Mine was a new build and I used the legs to raise the boards above the insulation. Bought everything from b&q.
I only boarded out a small area about 3mx4m and used it for Christmas decorations, suitcases etc nothing hugely heavy and not a lot of stuff.
i wore a face mask, gloves and a disposable boiler suit thing

The hardest part is to bring the boards into the attic.

As per the first post you need to check what you are boarding on can support the weight. Regular ceiling joists are there to support the ceiling below not support a floor above. While you may get away with it you may also come crashing down into the room below.

We paid somebody (also needed insulating and a new loft ladder so worth getting somebody in to do all of it - took them about two hours, would have taken me and DH all weekend plus cost of materials etc).

Totally worth it! Our loft is a proper storage room now which is really easy to get things in and out of, instead of before where it was basically a black hole of junk and tinsel.

I did ours , well a good size section around the loft hatch - it’s quite easy but hard on the knees

I strongly recommend the brown mineral wool treated with Ecose, which does not shed irritant dust and fibres.

It is made by Knauf but often packaged as an own-brand. It will be marked "Ecose" on the packaging.

I would not have the old yellow fibreglass in my house.