Lofts / Loft Ladders in Livingston, West Lothian (1)

If you’re in two minds as to whether you should board your loft, here are some of the benefits that you’ll get from a boarded loft:

• A boarded loft prevents heat loss and maximises insulation for your home

• It creates extra storage space

• Boarding your loft can add value to your home

• It’s a cheaper alternative to external storage solutions

How long does it take to board a loft?

The time it takes to complete the loft boarding installation process depends on the size of your loft, the ease of access to the space, and how many installers are working on the job. As a guide, you can expect most loft boarding jobs to take 1-2 days.

Things to consider when boarding a loft

There are a few considerations you should keep in mind if you’re planning to board your loft, such as:

• Is your loft suitable for boarding? How much headroom will you have? Depending on the pitch of the roof, parts of your loft may not be accessible standing upright and will be largely unsuitable to use for storage – if this applies to the majority of your loft space it might not be worth boarding.

• Are the joists in your loft structurally strong enough to support a floor and the extra weight of any stored items? It’s worth getting a local loft boarding expert to come and take a look before you get started.

• Check your roof insulation as you might need to factor in adding insulation, which can eat into the space available for storage and will mean potentially boarding a loft with thick insulation.

• Assess the access to the loft to make sure that you’ll be able to safely and comfortably get in and out of the loft – in most cases a loft ladder will solve that problem.

Need help with loft boarding?

Whether you need to board your whole loft or you just need to install a new loft ladder, it’s always good to get advice from local loft boarding experts before you get started.

Find the best local loft boarding specialists near you with our quick and easy online search. Or request a quote and we’ll reach out to multiple local tradespeople for you and they’ll get in touch with you directly.

The short answer to that question is no. The reason for this is that modern insulation guidelines specify that loft insulation should be the equivalent of 270mm of mineral wool/quilt insulation. However, the height of most common joists in the UK are 75mm-100mm, and some older properties may have very different joist heights and even have irregular heights that would make for an uneven base.

That means that boarding straight onto loft joists would mean reducing your loft insulation to below the recommended levels, which can directly impact the energy efficiency of your home and increase your energy bills.

Loft boarding regulations

As with any part of a building, there are certain loft boarding regulations that you should be aware of before starting any loft boarding project. To find out the details of the regulations that apply to your home, you can either contact your local council for guidance or reach out to experienced loft boarding installers in your area for their professional advice.

Want to speak to loft boarding experts in Livingston?

Sometimes it helps to have a quick chat with local loft boarding installation companies to understand what options are available and how much they’ll cost.

If you’re ready to reach out to local loft boarding and loft ladder installers, you’re in the right place. We can help you find the best tradespeople in your area with our quick and easy online search – or request a quote and we’ll get multiple local loft specialists to contact you directly.

The process of boarding a loft creates useful storage space, which can add appeal to buyers looking for a home that provides decent storage and make your property easier to sell – but it won’t necessarily add a huge amount of value to the property as such.

If you’re looking to add a hefty chunk to the sale value of your home and you have some budget to spend with loft space to use then a loft conversion could be the answer. Creating a full, habitable loft conversion will have a much bigger impact on the price of your property – but it’s a big investment in time and money.

Thinking a loft conversion could be right for your home? Check out our guide to planning a loft conversion for useful tips and advice. And to help you plan a budget for your loft conversion, we’ve also put together a guide on loft conversion costs.

In theory, the idea of boarding a loft is to be able to store items and be able to walk around in order to position and access those items. That said, you need to ensure that the boarding is properly and securely installed over joists in good condition.

As long as it’s done well, a boarded loft should be able to take the weight of boxes, suitcases and even some items of furniture, as well as being able to bear the weight of anyone accessing the loft space.

If you’re not a confident and skilled DIY enthusiast, we would always recommend hiring a professional to board your loft to make sure that it’s done to a professional standard for the health and safety of you and your household.

Fitting a loft ladder

In addition to laying boards that create a usable space in your loft, you want to make sure that you fit a loft ladder to provide easy access to your newly boarded loft. To find out more, read our guide on how to install a loft ladder.

Want to find out more about local loft boarding services?

When planning a project that requires loft board work or a loft ladder installation, it’s important to speak to local loft specialists to understand what’s involved and how much it will cost. Experienced tradespeople will be able to advise on the options available and what you’ll need for your project.

Keen to get started? Search for the best local loft boarding companies in Livingston and get in touch with them yourself. Alternatively, you can get multiple quotes from local loft specialists by using our request a quote feature – simply post details of what you need and we’ll get reliable local tradespeople to contact you directly.