Loft insulation problem

PeteW

Hiya,

We had some people round to insulate our loft this week and there's a bit of a problem. Basically, I had presumed they would take up the loft boards, lay the insulation and then put the boards back on top.

Instead what they did was poke a big hose through the loft hatch and fire insulation over every surface.

So the loft now looks like this:



Although this was a pain I didn't think it'd be too much of a problem as I could just take up the boards and put them down on top of the insulation. You can see on the right of the picture where I've tried to do this and had a bit of a problem...

I can't get the screws out of the boards! There are about 6 in each board and they look pretty old and rusty. I don't know if they were machined in, but they're not budging!

Any suggestions as to what I can do next??

Cheers

Pete

pimento

Lay more boards on top?

Who did the job?

phill99

Taking the boards up and putting them down on top of the insulation defeats teh object of insulating. The insulation material works but its 'fluffiness'. If its squashd it wont be fluffy and therefore reduces the insulating capabilities.

In terms of getting screws up, you need the longest screw driver you can get as this allws 'purchase' on the screw. additionally, try and tighten the screw slightly first. If it tightens slightly, then it will also untighten. Tightening it essentially 'cracks it'

iamcornholio

LOL - didn't you think to ask the people what they would be doing first?

I've got this image of a random person knocking a front door and the owner just letting them into the loft with this great big hose without a word

If you compress the insualtion down by removing /refitting the boards, then it will lose it's effectiveness. You need to counter batten the ceiling joists with new [thicker] timber to lift the floor boarding up to a higher level

You can get screw extractors - try these

PeteW

iamcornholio wrote: »

LOL - didn't you think to ask the people what they would be doing first?

I've got this image of a random person knocking a front door and the owner just letting them into the loft with this great big hose without a word

Well had I been home I certainly would have asked, but unfortunately my wife was left in charge! Always a dangerous situation!

However, you'd have thought if you were an expert in lofts you'd perhaps mention to the people you are working for that you're about to render their loft useless! Or at least offer them some advice...

iamcornholio

Normally the surveyor comes around for a look, and goes through the process and answers questions.

Then it is booked in, but the guys who do the work are not that bothered as everything should have been sorted out previously, and they have a set amount to do per day so will just come and lay the insualtion and then be off.

If this was really unexpected and you are not happy, then get in touch with the company to discuss where things went wrong and if they can help out in any way

PeteW

iamcornholio wrote: »

You can get screw extractors - try these

I've already got some of them one is now permanently lodged in a screw in a door handle that now will not move in either direction!

DirectDebacle

If you really must lift the boards and all else has failed use a small diameter hole saw in an electric drill. With the pilot drill removed cut holes around the screws. Lift the boards and the small circle of board with the screw will remain. You can leave these where they are or cut through the screw with a hacksaw. Do not try to jigsaw the boards out. There is a chance you may cut through pipes/cables hidden by the boards.

macman

There's no way the contractors would lift all the boards and replace them for the usual price charged. They normally allow a couple of hours work on an average house. Was the job not surveyed first?-if so they should have told you to lift the boards in prep if you wanted those areas done.

diable

If the screws are stuck then an impact screwdriver and help loosed the screws.

KeithP

diable wrote: »

If the screws are stuck then an impact screwdriver and help loosed the screws.

Careful with the impact.

You may well loosen the ceiling below too.