Are you looking to improve the insulation in your loft? Effective loft insulation keeps the warm air in your home, helping to improve the energy efficiency of your home and reduce your energy bills.
In an uninsulated home, up to 25% of heat can be lost through the roof. Current government guidelines recommend 270mm depth of loft insulation to ensure efficient warmth is retained in the home. Often, this results in the insulation being thicker than the joists and trusses. Creating an issue of boarding over insulation. Here are our top tips if you’re looking to board over the full depth of insulation in your loft.
Don’t
Do not squash your insulation by placing items or boarding directly on top
If you squash your insulation, you reduce its thermal performance by up to 50%. It can also create issues in the loft such as damp and condensation as the insulation does not have sufficient airflow to be protected or work effectively.
Do not remove any insulation to make room for standard loft boarding
Doing so you can reduce the energy efficiency of your home and its thermal performance. You should ensure you have the recommended depth of 270mm of insulation in your loft. With the right products, you don’t need to compromise on loft insulation to create storage space in your loft.
Do not forget safety measures
Make sure you do your research and planning before you do any DIY in your loft. Also, ensure you have the right tools and PPE in place too. We recommend you use a spare loft board to kneel on while you work. Keep in mind to work safely in your loft to avoid any risks of injury or repair work!
Do
Install a raised loft boarded area that sits above the full 270mm insulation
StoreFloor is an award-winning, fully patented loft boarding system designed especially for installing a raised loft floor over insulation. It is the only BBA-approved raised loft boarding system that saves money, helps the environment and increases safety. Providing extra storage that won’t invalidate an NHBC new build house warranty.
Check the current condition of your loft insulation
Especially if you have just moved, or if your property is over ten years old. It is possible that you may require to ‘top-up’ or replace the insulation entirely with new insulation. From this, you can get a better understanding of how to improve and protect your insulation in your loft, to ensure it gives you the most benefits of keeping your home warm.
See if you’re eligible for a grant
You may be eligible for a government grant to help towards the costs of improving your insulation. Aimed at helping to reduce carbon emissions and improve property energy performance certificates. Such as the Green Homes Grant, that provides vouchers for energy efficient improvements in your home. You can also learn more about other ways to improve your home’s energy efficiency. 2021 UPDATE: this grant has now closed, but the Government may bring in others in the future and local councils sometimes do, too.
So, if you want to board over your insulation make sure you do not squash it and ensure it has sufficient airflow so it can work effectively to heat your home. By installing a raised boarded area, with products such as LoftZone StoreFloor you can ensure your insulation has sufficient airflow while providing optimal storage space in your loft.
Whether you fancy installing your own DIY Loft Boarding Kit or would prefer a professional loft boarding installer. Our team of loft experts are always happy to answer any questions or help you to make the most out of your loft space. Give us a call on 01483 600 304, or drop us a message to sales@loftzone.com.