Is your loft attic an incomplete, unused area that serves no use for you or your family?
Some of us have lofts in our homes, but we don’t always use them to their best potential.
Consider loft boarding if this is the case. It’s a cost-effective and easy method to significantly expand the amount of useable space in your house, with many advantages for homeowners.
Read on for our full breakdown of everything you need to know about loft boarding and how to take advantage of the space you already have.
Loft Attic 101: Understanding the Basics
Before we delve into the nuances of attic loft conversions, let’s clarify some common misconceptions.
Many people act under the assumption that you need to have specialized planning permission before loft boarding, and that is incorrect.
It is not necessary to get planning approval to construct loft boards for storage. Planning approval is only needed for more extensive renovations or if you want to turn your loft into a dwelling space.
Book an initial inspection and obtain a fixed price estimate to determine how much a loft boarding installation will cost for your loft. Or, you can do the project yourself.
Board a Loft: The Main Benefits
You might be thinking: “why even bother?” Well, you’ll find that loft boarding comes with many perks, and you might be surprised at how easy it can be to do the whole thing.
First, we have the obvious benefits, which is an increase in your available storage space. One of the fastest methods to add storage space to your house is to board a loft, and it’s ideal for more essential things that aren’t used often, including old toys, seasonal decorations, holiday stuff, or sports equipment.
A loft ledge, an easy-to-install shelf system intended to fit precisely into your knotted roof loft space, is a simple method to expand the useable area in your loft space after it has been boarded. For a high-quality option, you’ll want to check out Instaloft loft boarding.
Sort things into transparent containers and label them to make it easier to see what’s inside.
Added Safe Accessibility
In a wholly insulated loft, a well-boarded loft provides a safe method of accessing and moving about, reducing the danger of missing a beam and resting on the plasterboard roof.
This is particularly essential if the equipment in the loft requires regular maintenance, such as photovoltaic inverters for water tanks or solar panels.
Ensure that the insulation is not compromised by the boarded area squashing it. You may accomplish this by using Loft Legs to raise the boards.
Less Clutter and a Tidier Home
There are many advantages to having a decluttered house, including feeling calmer, less worried, and more at ease in your surroundings. Give your home a facelift with your new loft space if you’re tired of jumping over toys, old furniture, or clothing on the floor.
Anything that is no longer needed may be thrown away or donated, but you can store things you want to retain but want out of sight in the loft.
It’s a fantastic way to recover some lost space and make your house seem more comfortable and tidy.
How to Board a Loft: The Process
Boarding up your loft may offer a safe and secure storage place for all of your boxes of keepsakes, Christmas decorations, spare clothing, and anything else you can’t stand to part with.
But, you’ll need to have the right equipment and tools on hand before you can undertake the project on your own.
You’ll need a jigsaw and workstation, as well as screwdrivers, a hammer, drill, a pencil, and tape measure to board your loft correctly. Working in a loft may be a claustrophobic and dusty environment. Therefore gloves and a face shield are recommended.
Putting down boards to turn your attic into useable storage space is a simple job that usually does not need any planning permission and is cheap and doable even for a DIY novice.
Stage 1: Get Your Measurements
Calculate the space that the boards will need to cover. Understand that most people only board the middle section of their loft since the ceiling slope makes the sides less usable for storage and far more challenging to reach.
Standard loft planks are 18mm thick and available in 2,400mm × 600mm and 1,220mm x 320mm. Always double-check that the boards you choose will fit through your loft hatch.
After you’ve boarded your loft, you’ll probably utilize it a lot more. With this in mind, you may want to consider installing a pull-down ladder and installing lights to make access simpler and safer.
Stage 2: Install Your Loft
Put on your safety gear and set up a temporary work platform by placing a board between ceiling joists. Begin placing the panels together.
Boards must be staggered for greater strength so that joints do not all lineup and form a weak spot. Cut the boards to allow easy access to the heads of light fittings, something you will undoubtedly come across. Take care not to catch any wires going through your loft.
At least 270mm of insulation on the loft floor is required for most homes, which means the insulating material will be heaped up above the joists, making it impossible to connect boards over the top.
Squeezing the insulation will reduce its effectiveness; instead, remove the excess layers above the joists and connect them to the roof with rope and nails.
Stage 3: Finalize Your Placement
It’s time to nail your loft planks in place after you’re sure they’re in the proper position for a secure place to stand and keep your belongings.
Drill two or three pilot holes along the edge of each board, align them with the joist’s center, and secure them with screws.
Ready to Explore Different Attic Loft Ideas?
Nothing is stopping you from making use of the unused space in your home. We know that figuring out how to board up your attic and create a loft might seem like a somewhat complex process at the start.
But, we hope that our guide has shed some light on how you can have the loft attic of your dreams. And, if you’re still searching for additional tips and tricks on how to transform your home space, then you’ll love checking out our home improvement section.