An uninsulated home can lose about 25% of heat through the roof. To ensure there is enough warmth retained in your home, it is essential that your insulation and loft boarding is placed correctly.
Current government guidelines recommend that you should have around 270mm of loft insulation to maintain an appropriate temperature. This normally results in the insulation being thicker than the loft joists and trusses, but, if installed correctly loft insulation should pay for itself many times in its 40-year lifetime.
There are several dos and don’ts when it comes to loft boarding over insulation. Following these simple steps will help you to strike the perfect balance between increasing your storage space and maintaining a sustainable home.
Do
Create a raised boarding area above the insulation
If you squash the insulation, it can reduce its performance up to 50%! This increases the likelihood of damp and condensation due to it not having the right about of ventilation and airflow. So, consider raised loft boarding to prevent these situations form happening.
Check your current insulation
Throughout English homes, only 65% of them have sufficient levels of insulation which leads to unnecessary energy consumption. So, be mindful that if your property is older than 10 years, there is a possibility that your home could require new insulation.
Do your research
A stereotypical error that is made around loft boarding is that standard loft boarding does not damage your home. That is incorrect. Having standard loft boarding installed can have some opposite effects on your property.
The Loftzone StoreFloor is a unique and fully patented structured system, and the only raise loft boarding recommended for insulated lofts. Installed above the level of your loft insulation, the Loftzone StoreFloor loft boarding protects your insulation and helps to keep the cost of your energy savings down.
The design protects the insulation underneath whilst providing a safe board above for access and storage, it’s the only loft floor service that complies will building regulations such as allowing you to keep the height of your 270mm insulation without squashing it. This maintains the airflow between the floor and the insulation, it can hold up to 500kg per square metre, and it’s been tested independently so we guarantee that its safe for you and your loft!
Having your loft boarding fitted properly is crucial. We provide simple installation guides for those planning on fitting the boarding themselves, alternatively you can opt to have your loft boarding fitted by a certified installer.
Don’t
Do not install any loft boards directly to joists or trusses
Installing your loft boarding system directly onto the joists reduces the quality of the insulation between them both. The supports need to be attached to ceiling joists or roof trusses so that the boards can be installed onto the supports which results in a secure raised loft floor – allowing the insulation to work correctly with no added pressure.
Do not remove any insulation
Removing insulation can reduce the thermal performance of your home, making your property much colder in the winter. Installing insulation, we burn less fuel which is much better for the environment, reducing the demand for energy which is one of the best ways to combat climate change.
Do not block any air vents
Blocking air vents can cause two major issues. The first being a pressure imbalance, and the second being the impact it has on your existing insulation. A pressure imbalance can result in a reduction of cool air being produced, meaning you end up using more energy. Blocked vents also mean that the insulation itself will not get the air flow it needs to regulate the temperature of your home.
Book Your Loft Boarding Installation
Having your loft boarding professionally installed, will transform your loft from a relatively dangerous area to a safe and easily accessible storage space. Should you require it, we are also able to provide a full loft boarding package, expertly installed to the exact specifications of your loft.
To book a free quotation, simply give us a call on 0800 0463995, or email us at enquiries@www.instaloft.co.uk.