Joist stilts for loft boarding

inch_high

Hi,

I'm about to get some free loft inuslation fitted next month. I want to put loft boards down for storage.

I am aware that I cant squash the insulation as this stops it doing its job. So, my only option is to use joist stilts to raise the boards above the insulation.

But... I cannot find them anywhere! B & Q have a guide on how to fit them but dont have any in stock!

Does anyone know of a supplier?

mostly_harmless

Quite simple to make your own. Purchase a length of 2x4 and saw off the required length of stilt. Place on beam and screw in from either side at 45 degrees. And then you can put your boards on top.

martinthebandit

Only option?

If it was me I would just lay another set of joists crossways and board on them.

ic

http://www.toolstation.com/shop/p44016

They seem very expensive for what they are to me, and I doubt the floor will feel very secure. I used space boards in my loft: http://www.space-insulation.com/board.html

27col

Agree, they do seem to be a bit expensive for what they are. Mostly harmless has got the right idea, it might be a bit of work, but infinitely cheaper than installing the cross joists.

Avoriaz

martinthebandit wrote: »

Only option?

If it was me I would just lay another set of joists crossways and board on them.

Won't that crush the insulation too much?

Plus it will add a lot of extra weight.

fwor

Avoriaz wrote: »

Won't that crush the insulation too much?

Plus it will add a lot of extra weight.

I think the idea is to put one layer of insulation to the top of the original joists, and then another layer to the top of the new ones.

True, it will add weight, but it will also considerably strengthen the roof structure, which the "stilts" probably won't.

And, as said, very costly. I looked into it for my roof, but I don't think it would pay back in my lifetime...

Idiophreak

We just pushed some of the insulation aside and boarded a small area.

Think you can do < 1/3 of the area without effecting the energy rating iirc.

(and our flat's just insanely hot all the time, so weren't worried about losing the insulation....)

googler

fwor wrote: »

And, as said, very costly. I looked into it for my roof, but I don't think it would pay back in my lifetime...

£16+ for 12 stilts from Toolstation, place them every half metre, say, so for an 11 x 6 metre loft, that's.... 21x11 = 231/12 = 19 packs, or £308.

Boarding on top at £5.86 per sq m from B&Q = £387

Total 308 + 387 = £695

Annual Saving on Heating Costs = £X per annum

Time to break even on initial outlay = £695/X = how many years?

Anyone care to take a stab at annual savings to complete the calcs?

fwor

googler wrote: »

Anyone care to take a stab at annual savings to complete the calcs?

No, I meant that I had looked at adding further cross-joists and boarding on top of that - I had already ruled out stilts as being (IMO) too unstable. The problem is that substantial timber for joists is very expensive.

googler

fwor wrote: »

No, I meant that I had looked at adding further cross-joists and boarding on top of that - I had already ruled out stilts as being (IMO) too unstable. The problem is that substantial timber for joists is very expensive.

Indeed, we could do costing based on joists and board rather than stilts, but the essential point I'm looking at is - how long before the savings in heating costs outweigh the expense?