Can you self install loft insulation?

[TheWildZebra]

Has anyone here installed / replaced loft insulation themselves? Just trying to figure if this is an expert job or something we can do?

thanks!

Absolutely do able as a DIY job but can be unpleasant and best do it in colder times of year.

You can buy systems like loft legs to raise floor and top up insulation. Potentially you can use c16 CLS wood to make it easier.

You also can get systems like loft zone.

How easy Gard it is depends on state of the loft, lighting. Wear a respirator and gloves to avoid insulation itching skin etc

Ok you sounds like you’ve done this before! I’ll take that as encouragement and send DH lots of YouTube videos and send him up the ladder when it gets a bit cooler! Thank you :)

Yes, you can absolutely do this yourself. Be warned though it's a filthy job if you are taking out the existing stuff and not just laying new on top.
Plan to do this in cooler weather. Wear coveralls and a really good mask. Take lots of bin bags up into the loft and fill them up with the old stuff. Chuck that down the loft hatch and straight outside ready to take to the tip.
Last time, I used an old hoover to clean the loft up a bit as there was a ton of dust, spiders, cobwebs etc.
Then lay out the new stuff.
Takes ages, it's really not a fun job, but not technical at all. If you pay someone to do it it's because it's a hot, dirty, itchy and horrible job.

I've done it twice and boarded the loft as well, and I hate/am not very good at DIY.

Its a hot, sweaty, messy job and my current loft needs finishing at the edges, but its so much easier for storage and access now, especially as our new boiler is up there.

I recommend wearing one of those paper body suit/overall things and a decent face mask.

I never bothered with the leg supports for the floor that are currently recommended, but there is an air gap between the top of the insulation and the bottom of the loft boards. It means I dont have the thickness that is currently recommended (about 30cms I think) but I have about 15-20 which works well enough.

I also dont put any insulation over light fittings/electrical junction boxes or similar so they dont overheat.

We had it done under a government scheme of some kind and it was free. The guys who did it were a bit hapless and from what I saw it looked very easy to DIY. So the main reason to get in a ‘pro’ would be if you could make use of the scheme

Yes but it's a pain in the arse.

Also make sure you follow the regs re. Air gaps and air flow etc.

Yes, pretty simple as far as diy goes, watch some YouTube videos for ideas

Thanks everyone! I checked the gov scheme and we would have been eligible but they stopped it end of March this year, before we owned the house :(

Make sure you get regs sign off, it was something my buyers solicitor pulled us up on. We had only altered a tiny area, though, so didn't need approval. But the guy I bought the house from originally would have needed sign off, which he didn't have, but my solicitor didn't pick up on it, and it's not something I would've been bothered about anyway. If you don't want any hassle, do it by the book.