The Dos & Don’ts of Loft Boarding

Loft boarding is super practical for homeowners because it gives additional storage space without having to extend the property. While installing loft flooring helps to utilise unused space, it must be approached with careful planning and skill to avoid common pitfalls. 

At The Attic Guys, we know how to board a loft correctly, which is why we wanted to share with you some loft boarding dos and don’ts as part of our safe loft boarding guide.

Why proper loft boarding matters

There are three reasons to invest in proper loft boarding:

1. To maintain structural integrity. We ensure your loft can support the additional weight to prevent any structural issues down the line.

2. To maintain energy efficiency. Proper loft boarding ensures your insulation is not impacted, reducing heat loss and potentially lowering your energy bills.

3. To maintain safety. We always adhere to best practices to ensure your safety isn’t compromised when it comes to ceilings and ventilation.

The dos of loft boarding

• Assess whether your loft can bear the additional load – Can your loft handle the additional load? Chat with our team and we’ll be happy to help you evaluate whether your loft can handle what you intend to store.

• Install raised boarding to elevate above insulation – Using loft legs to raise loft boards preserves your insulation and thereby ensures proper thermal performance.

• Keep air vents clear – To prevent moisture buildup and condensation, you must keep air vents unobstructed. 

• Plan your board layout – A successful loft boarding starts with an accurate layout, using the most ideal position possible. Our loft boarding experts can ensure all of this is taken care of before any work starts.

The don’ts of loft boarding

• Don’t compress your insulation – If you squash your insulation with boarding, it will cut how effective it is almost in half, making it harder to keep your home warm.

• Don’t remove or modify trusses – If you modify or remove trusses of your own accord, you could compromise the structural integrity of your roof.

• Don’t cover downlights – Should your insulation cover light fittings, it can create a fire hazard. Instead, you will need specialist loft lids or covers.

• Don’t overload the loft – If you exceed the recommended weight in your loft by adding boarding and then piling in possessions, you could do long-term damage to your home, with the weight creating a strain.

Common mistakes people make when boarding a loft

Are you thinking about boarding out your loft? Here are the common mistakes people make that you may want to avoid:

• Not getting a structural assessment and therefore failing to verify that the loft has the capacity as storage space.
• Removing or cutting insulation when carrying out boarding reduces the thermal efficiency of your home.
• Blocking ventilation with insulation or boarding allows moisture and damp to accumulate.
• Using low-quality boards to cut costs but finding it compromises safety and durability when using the loft.
• Not stopping to plan your layout makes it an inefficient use of space and material.

The smart way to carry out loft boarding in Luton, Harrow, Croydon and surrounding areas is to let the professionals take care of it. At The Attic Guys, we take the time to plan around your specific loft space so you can be sure of the finished results. Using high-quality materials and applying the strictest safety standards means you get all the benefits of fresh storage space without any of the hassle or headaches.

Call our friendly team 0808 502 2464, or submit a contact form, today for a free loft boarding quote or to discuss weight limits for loft boarding.