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Loft Flooring & Boarding Over Insulation: Complete 2024 Guide
- Boards for loft flooring can be installed on top of insulation using plywood, wood, or plastics.
- Installing loft flooring and boarding over insulation helps save space, prevent heat loss, and increase home value.
- Adequate loft insulation can also help reduce CO2 emissions by 125kg annually.
- Putting flooring over insulation requires loft boards and a raised floor system.
Installing flooring over insulation allows for better savings and heat retention. When it comes to loft insulation in the UK, applying floor boarding can enhance its existing benefits but also requires proper installation to avoid damage to the floor. In this article, we’ll review the process, available options, and how much they cost.
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Can you floor or board over loft insulation?
Yes, loft insulation should be covered with flooring or floorboards to keep it secure and free of damage. It is not just possible, but it’s recommended. This can help reduce energy and heating expenses while significantly lowering your carbon footprint. Covering your loft insulation with floor or board helps improve the value of a home by 2% to 6%, keeps the insulation safer and secure, ensures a seamless finish, and works better at retaining heat.
Depending on the type of insulation, you can also improve the acoustic insulation of your loft. Materials like mineral wool, polystyrene, or polyurethane provide great noise reduction. These materials can be placed under boards and used alongside other items like blanket insulation, which is considered one of the best insulation for lofts.
How to board a loft with insulation
To install loft flooring and boarding over insulation, follow these key steps:
- Prep the loft space: It all starts with the right setup. Examine the structural integrity of the joists you have and make sure that they can support the new flooring. Clean the area and clear any obstructions, such as debris.
- Apply proper insulation: Ensure proper insulation is in place, typically 270mm thick, as recommended. Verify adequate ventilation by creating an air gap of 50mm on top of the insulation to prevent condensation, and use materials that don’t absorb too much water.
- Gather necessary materials and tools: You will need numerous items including loft boards, with tongue and groove boards being the best options, along with loft legs. Make sure to bring plenty of screws and a screwdriver. Get a saw for cutting along with the appropriate safety gear to protect not just from injury but also from dust inhalation.
- Install loft legs or raised floor system: Measure and mark spots for loft legs, typically 1.2 meters apart. Screw the loft legs directly into the joists, ensuring they're straight and secure. If using LoftZone StoreFloor, place tri-supports 600mm apart (or 610mm for 1.22m boards) if you’re flooring an attic over insulation (especially if it’s spacious).
- Install the loft boards: Start from the hatch and work outwards. Stagger the boards for increased stability. Ensure boards fit snugly together, especially if using tongue and groove boards. Screw the boards securely into the loft legs or raised floor system.
There are a few things you need to keep in mind when boarding a loft over insulation materials. Firstly, you shouldn’t install them packed in too tightly. Similarly, do not install boards directly onto joists or trusses. This could compress the insulation, reducing its effectiveness. Therefore, you need to maintain a small gap between boards for expansion and airflow.
All in all, you should not overload the new floor. Weight is an important consideration, so you should keep in mind how much stress the materials you use can endure.
For simple installations, numerous online resources can instruct you about boarding a loft over insulation. However, we recommend hiring an experienced professional to get the job done.
How much does boarding or flooring a loft insulation cost in the UK?
Loft flooring can cost £50 to £60 per m2, while the whole process could cost between £1,100 to £3,500 for homes between 15m2 to 40m2 With insulation, the prices may go up to £55 to £80 per m2, amounting to £1,210 to £6,000 for a 22m2 loft.
The material you choose also impacts how much to insulate a loft. The price of insulation materials is as follows:
| Material | Average cost (per m2) incl. installation |
|---|---|
| PIR Board | £5 – £15 |
| Fibreglass | £10 |
| Polystyrene (EPS) Board | £10 |
| Cellulose | £10 - £12 |
| Mineral Wool (Glass) | £13 - £17.5 |
| Sheep's wool | £17.5 - £22 |
| Mineral Wool (Rock) | £18.2 |
| Polyurethane Board | £21.5 |
*These costs are market averages. For an accurate price, get a local installer to QUOTE now!
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Pros and cons of loft board insulation
Pros:
- Save on heating bills: Placing insulation under loft boards can help decrease energy costs by up to £45 a year. This can also prevent heat loss and make rooms lofts more comfortable.
- Decrease your carbon footprint: A lower carbon footprint benefits the environment, allowing for better energy efficiency and decreasing annual carbon emissions by between 150kg and 200kg.
- Insulation grants available: For homes that may not have adequate energy performance, insulation grants like the ECO4 and the Great British Insulation Scheme can provide some relief from the initial costs.
- Reduce noise: Aside from the energy savings, you can also get some peace and quiet in your loft. This can depend on the types of materials, with polyurethane and mineral wool being great for noise insulation.
Cons:
- High initial costs: Costs for insulation are not the most exorbitant but they can be, depending on the state of your loft. Luckily, if you are eligible for grants, you can mitigate costs or even cover the entire purchase.
- Bad installation can cause damage: Placing loft boards over insulation can be tricky if you don’t know what you’re doing. This can involve picking the right materials and knowing how to space the insulation and the boards. However, professional installers can easily do the job for you, ensuring no damage.
Should you board or floor loft insulation?
Boarding your loft and optimising the floor insulation can reduce your heating bills, improve noise insulation, and increase the value of your home. On top of that, new insulation helps decrease your carbon footprint and improve the energy performance of your home.
Even if you already have insulation, there may be reasons that you should consider new insulation using a different material. Older insulation tends to use less sustainable materials or even ones that don’t have the water resistance you require.
Installing loft boards over insulation can be tricky, but getting the right installer can make the process seamless. But how do you find the right professional for the job? On your own, this could be a chore that takes days of calling up companies and comparing their offers. However, we can provide you with up to 3 free, non-binding quotes from reputable installers in your area.
With our service, you just need to fill in one quick 30-second form and we’ll get back to you with multiple prices so that you can pick the best ones.
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