Using loft for storage but loads of wires everywhere.

Leif

Alias_Omega wrote: »

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).

You can notch joists:

http://www.eastdevon.gov.uk/bc-guidancenote7-notchingofjoists.pdf

However, personally I would lay down battens as you suggest.

Alias_Omega

Leif wrote: »

You can notch joists:

http://www.eastdevon.gov.uk/bc-guidancenote7-notchingofjoists.pdf

However, personally I would lay down battens as you suggest.

Thats the floor joists fella, or they would never be able to install plumbing pipes.

Were talking about the upstairs (attic) ceiling joists, the little tiny 3" x 2" 1970-1980 council special size.

(A ceiling that you would not walk on installing electrical wires without the use of crawling boards etc)

PasturesNew

What is all this clut you're saving....? Anything in the loft tends to never get seen/used, just added to. It might be easier to have an annual declutter rather than hiding stuff away in the loft where it's a pig to get to (so you never actually do).

keystone

Leif wrote: »

You can notch joists:

Indeed but the convention is drill for cables and notch for pipes. As AO observes I think notching or drilling the timbers in the roof is not a good plan for anyone.

Cheers

keystone

LaDiva wrote: »

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

But how long ago? AFAIK there is no regulation requiring cables in roof spaces to be clipped and even if there were now such things are not retrospective. There are as regards proximity to insulation for new work.

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.

Older roofspaces were never designed to be used for storage or at least for any degree of weight. You only have a space up there because you have a pitched roof - if it was flat there would be none..

If you are going to board it just cut holes in the boards so that the cables can hop over the timbers. Its not as if you are planning to make it habitable accommodation.

You coulkd always use a self storage facility for your clutter or the garage or just get rid of (perhaps sell) it.

Cheers

Leif

Alias_Omega wrote: »

Thats the floor joists fella, or they would never be able to install plumbing pipes.

Were talking about the upstairs (attic) ceiling joists, the little tiny 3" x 2" 1970-1980 council special size.

(A ceiling that you would not walk on installing electrical wires without the use of crawling boards etc)

The OP has not told you what kind of joists they have. My ceiling joists are big. But we are all agreed that battens is the preferred way to go.

A.Penny.Saved

Be careful how much you plan on sticking up there because it could affect air circulation and possibly increase condensation if done to the extreme. If you do get any condensation, it could ruin anything that is put up there, so that is worth considering.

LaDiva_2

keystone wrote: »

But how long ago? AFAIK there is no regulation requiring cables in roof spaces to be clipped and even if there were now such things are not retrospective. There are as regards proximity to insulation for new work.

Older roofspaces were never designed to be used for storage or at least for any degree of weight. You only have a space up there because you have a pitched roof - if it was flat there would be none..

If you are going to board it just cut holes in the boards so that the cables can hop over the timbers. Its not as if you are planning to make it habitable accommodation.

You coulkd always use a self storage facility for your clutter or the garage or just get rid of (perhaps sell) it.

Cheers

Thank you for the input.

House was built around 1930s. I've spoken to a few in the area (houses built around the same time) and they've done loft conversations. Yes I am aware of the fact that is a different ball game, however they've managed to do all the work and have yet to have problems?

We moved in 2008.

We are looking for storage space for items such as a moses basket, other baby items we hopefully will be using again. Decluttering these items doesn't make sense to me as we hope to be using them again in 2 years.

Checked out a local storage facility and it worked out at approx £30.00 per month for a small space.

Thank you all again.

LaDiva_2

PasturesNew wrote: »

What is all this clut you're saving....? Anything in the loft tends to never get seen/used, just added to. It might be easier to have an annual declutter rather than hiding stuff away in the loft where it's a pig to get to (so you never actually do).

It's mainly baby related things we hope to use again.

Diva

googler

HappyMJ wrote: »

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.

I'd rather have the insulation between the joists, board on top of it and have useful storage on, and be able to walk on, top of the boards. £25 a year in or out of the household budget will go un-noticed in our household.