Boarding out my loft

sevenhills

I have thought about a loft conversion, but they seem really expensive. So I have thought about boarding out my loft, just for extra storage space.
I want to strengthen the joists, just to future proof it. I am very unsure about what I need to do, the joists are 4cm x 10cm, and some others connected to the cross pieces that are 4.6cm x 10cm.

I will post a photo, when I get time. I am thinking about raising the boards, because I have insulation in the loft.

Its a two bedroom town house, in Leeds.

VfM4meplse

Watching this thread with interest.

Robin9

Are you sure - 2cm - thats less than an inch in real money ?

dancing_star

I've no idea about strengthening the joists, but I'd recommend using Loft Legs for raising the boards. Dead easy, even I could do it (DIY novice), on my own, with a borrowed electric screwdriver.

Check out Wickes which has a useful page, you can get the loft legs and boards from there. There's also a you tube video which helped me too.

Top tip is even if you have a loft light, wear a head torch as well as you'll be crawling around in dark corners out of the reach of the light.

Took me two half days to do about 2/3 of my loft - 3 bed semi. I didn't do the fiddly odd shapes around the upright post things or right up to the edge, but I didn't need masses of space, just enough to shove a few boxes up there mainly while I'm moving in, to temporarily keep stuff out of the way while furnishing & decorating. Yeah yeah I know in all likelihood most of it will still be there in 4 years...

Good luck!

Aylesbury_Duck

Future proof the joists for what? What on earth are you planning on storing up there?

Warwick_Hunt

sevenhills wrote: »

I have thought about a loft conversion, but they seem really expensive. So I have thought about boarding out my loft, just for extra storage space.
I want to strengthen the joists, just to future proof it. I am very unsure about what I need to do, the joist were 2cm x 10cm, and some others connected to the cross pieces that were 4.6cm x 10cm.

I will post a photo, when I get time. I am thinking about raising the boards, because I have insulation in the loft.

Its a two bedroom town house, in Leeds.

To do that you’re going to need to cover the whole span and rest them on load bearing walls. Anything else is just going to add extra weight to something designed to hold up plaster board.

sevenhills

dancing_star wrote: »

Top tip is even if you have a loft light, wear a head torch as well as you'll be crawling around in dark corners out of the reach of the light.
Yeah yeah I know in all likelihood most of it will still be there in 4 years...
Good luck!

Robin9 wrote: »

Are you sure - 2cm - thats less than an inch in real money ?

I will check.
There is already lighting up there. One thing I have noticed already, the dust from the insulation is terrible.

sevenhills

sevenhills

The bottom joist is 4cm x 10cm, the wood going at 90* degrees to it is 4.6cm x 10cm.
Are the ones going upwards supporting purlings?

The dimensions of the loft are 18' 9 and 15' from the corners.

VfM4meplse

Aylesbury_Duck wrote: »

Future proof the joists for what? What on earth are you planning on storing up there?

I sort of get this. If the works going to be done, it may as well be done once and cater for all eventualities than repent later on. For example, if the property later becomes tenanted there is no telling what might go up there.

I was told (frend of a friend scenario, no one wants to admit to having thick friends!!) that some bright spark tried to store a car engine in a loft - and it fell straight through the ceiling.

sevenhills

dancing_star wrote: »

I've no idea about strengthening the joists, but I'd recommend using Loft Legs for raising the boards. Dead easy, even I could do it (DIY novice), on my own, with a borrowed electric screwdriver.

I have read that joists are only strong enough to support one person, they are meant to support the ceilings and plasterboard, not much more.
Its freezing up there, too cold for living space unless done properly, but I don't like to throw things away, so extra storage will be good.
When I moved in, there was the odd piece of furniture and a Christmas tree.