Using loft for storage but loads of wires everywhere.

LaDiva_2

My new years mission is to get on top of the cleaning and decluttering.
My problem is we hardly have any storage in our house. I've been looking at different options and using the loft as a storage space sounds good. However after inspecting the area I have discovered tonnes and tonnes of electrical wiring just sitting there. Doesn't look safe IMHO but then I'm no expert.
I googled wires in loft and one suggestion came up which was to clip the wires to the joists. Has anyone else done that? Is it something I could safely do myself?
I'm thinking of calling in an electrican however wanted to get other folks input so I know what I need doing and the practicalities of it.
Our loft is insulated too which my research shoes isn't a problem as we don't have a shower.
TIA
Diva

Myser

Seems a bit of a bodge to me. They should have been cable clipped to the joists unless other work was being done at the time?

Can you post a pic on here - it would be interesting to see!

HappyMJ

You should have 270mm (almost a foot thick) of insulation in the loft. It is 100mm thick for the bit between the joists and another 170mm on top of the joists. There won't be any space for storage. Doubling up your insulation will save you £25 per year.

LaDiva_2

Myser wrote: »

Seems a bit of a bodge to me. They should have been cable clipped to the joists unless other work was being done at the time?

Can you post a pic on here - it would be interesting to see!

The electrical work was done before we moved in as was the insulation.

I will try and take a photo however maybe a problem as my little one is being a bit clingy at the moment.

HappyMJ-I love the idea of saving money via the insulation however I am in a dilemma of needing storage space. I'll have to look into weather the savings outway the possiblity of storage space.

Thank you all for the input.

Leif

You could lay boards over the joists, but make sure a) you screw them down (banging nails may damage ceilings) and b) you put insulation down first if required. I think there are regs about putting down boards, which hopefully someone will mention, and if wires run on top of joists, errrr, I suppose you'd have to create channels, but there are regs about that too for obvious reasons.

adonis

I have been looking at these in B & Q, might be an option.

Laurencek

If your putting boarding down etc just make sure you don't squish any cables as if you do it can cause insulation break down which will cause you issues in the future

Alias_Omega

Ive not seen them B&Q stilts before, though they are probably not needed.

I would start laying boards from the hatch working away, ensuring that no cables are caught underneath. You certainly CANNOT notch out the ceiling joists. You could raise the floor a little bit with some 1" batton to allow for the cables to pass (notching that 1" baton out).

ormus

adonis wrote: »

I have been looking at these in B & Q, might be an option.

thats a very expensive option.

LaDiva_2

Thank you all for the input. I will take a closer look at the electrical wiring, and if need me get an electrician in to establish is all the wires are live (my mum is under the impression some look extremely old and may not be live so potentially could be removed-not by me of course).
Adonis-those look great but are a bit pricey. We want to make the job as cost effective as possible, but of course as safe as possible too (considering the wires).

Thank you all again.

Procrastinator333

adonis wrote: »

I have been looking at these in B & Q, might be an option.

They look like an accident waiting to happen imo. Can just see one tipping over and going through the ceiling.

We wanted something not too expensive, still ok insulation and storage. We cross batened the loft with 2X4. This gave 200mm of insulation in the boarded area. Everywhere else we put 300mm down.

Got the loft insulation from npower (£1 a roll delivered) - £15, boards, 2X4 and lots of screws - about £150 all in. This gave just short of 8sq mt of storage. Downside was the 2 days it took to get it all done.