Loft has been boarded - any tips on storage?

Lysimache

Hi!
So our loft is now boarded with chipboard and Loft Legs. Loft itself is a Victorian construction, with V type beams coming up to hold the roof up etc.

We haven't done any steel reinforcing etc as the guys we've had round to do the loftboarding have said it should be able to withstand 2-3 boxes of books stacked on the loft.

Are there any tips for what we should or shouldn't do when we are storing stuff up there, other than not overloading it?

E.g. do we need to keep some space near the edges? Is it better to place things in the centre or near the edges in general?

What should I put my boxes on? A plastic bin bag? A cheap rug? What do you people do before chucking their boxes onto a loft boarded loft?

Aylesbury_Duck

Keep loading sensible and spread them around. Make sure you leave enough space around for air circulation because you'll see lots of threads in colder weather from people with condensation in their loft, often caused by lack or or blocked ventilation.

If you're using cardboard boxes to store things, put the things in tied plastic bags before you put them in the box. It will keep them protected against the worst of any damp.

Furts

Always best to ask, and there is the old saying "better safe than sorry" Before you load out what did the loft guys say, or do, about levels of insulation before boarding, then air gaps and also ideally a vapour barrier? It is a good time to check this has been done properly before everything gets hidden. Also what thickness loft boards were put down, and with support at what centres?

EachPenny

Lysimache wrote: »

Are there any tips for what we should or shouldn't do when we are storing stuff up there, other than not overloading it?

E.g. do we need to keep some space near the edges? Is it better to place things in the centre or near the edges in general?

In general from a structural point of view keeping the loads near supports minimises what is known as the bending moment.

Unfortunately in many houses the supports are the walls at the front and back where the rafters are at their lowest point and become the eaves. This means it is impractical to store anything in the (structural) ideal location, and as others have said, the eaves are usually a source of ventilation for the roof space and restricting the airflow in this area can cause other problems.

If you are lucky and there is a loadbearing wall near the centre of the house then making use of this support is better, but only if the roof structure is designed to transmit load down into the wall.

So there is no one 'right' answer to your question - it all depends on how your house has been constructed. Which is why the safest advice is to either get an opinion from a suitably qualified engineer before starting the project, or else strictly limit youself to a very small number of boxes containing lightweight things like Christmas decorations, empty suitcases, etc.

As a general principle, if a box is so heavy that you cannot lift it on your own, or couldn't hold it in outstretched arms for 5 minutes, then assume it is too heavy to go in your loft unless you have had it checked by a structural engineer.

That principle also applies from a personal safety perspective - you need to be able to safely get boxes in and out of the loft, and attempting to get heavy items up a ladder through a loft hatch poses many kinds of risks for you too.

[Deleted User]

Hi,

anything stuck in a loft for more than 6 months is obviously not needed so should be chucked out.

It'll be less hassle next time you move.

Jackmydad

[Deleted User] wrote:

Hi,

anything stuck in a loft for more than 6 months is obviously not needed so should be chucked out.

It'll be less hassle next time you move.

Agreed.
Cleared ours out some time back. Now there's just Christmas stuff, animal carrying cages, suitcases etc up there. A minimal amount. Relatively light stuff as well.

Also remember that anything you put up there is in effect "under cover outside" The weather is kept off, but humidity and temperature will vary. Bad for books and veneered furniture to name just a couple of things.

Furts

Seems a hot topic at the moment so I will chip in a penny worth. i have seen loft boards in DIY Sheds at 13mm thick. Now stop and ponder. Truss rafter roofs have been around for perhaps 50 years and the trusses are usually at 600mm centres. Which means the correct thicknes to span this is 22mm. That in turn means the DIY Shed 13mm boards are at best highly questionable, and at worse downright deadly.

I have asked OP what boards have been fitted. Perhaps some folks who have previously not given this a thought can now see why this really does matter.

But equally so often loft boarding is done by folks who do not have the competence to consider the relevant issues. These too do matter.

StumpyPumpy

Jackmydad wrote: »

Agreed.
Cleared ours out some time back. Now there's just Christmas stuff, animal carrying cages, suitcases etc up there. A minimal amount.

But by frugalmacdugal's reckoning you should have chucked out the Christmas stuff and probably the suitcases too.:p

[Deleted User] wrote:

Hi,
anything stuck in a loft for more than 6 months is obviously not needed so should be chucked out.

SP

Lysimache

OP here. Thanks everyone for the advice and food for thought.

1. Building made in 1890 or so. Surveyor report said roof is typical style for age and added it had two set of purlins supporting it (9 inch and 12 inch x 3 inch at lower level, upper 4 x 4 inch fones each with 4 45 deg angle bracing timbers.) if that's of any information.

2. We got insulation put in and loft boarding done on top of that with Loft Legs. Boarding was with 18mm Norbord chipboard. The installers advised us on no more than 2-3 boxes of books and all the various people who came to quote for us said we didn't need any structural work done to manage that (as we asked people about bracing or adding extra timbers or metal to the attic floor/roof); obviously we know they aren't engineers.

3. Everything will be kept in plastic boxes that are sealed at top because we know it's effectively like leaving stuff in a shed and there will be mice etc with time. Hmm, should we leave some mouse traps out?

Furts

Lysimache wrote: »

OP here. Thanks everyone for the advice and food for thought.

2. We got insulation put in and loft boarding done on top of that with Loft Legs.

With a membrane at ceiling level? Or if not done at least an air gap between the top of the insulation and the underside of the boards? With a suitable route for air to pass easily through this gap?

silverwhistle

[Deleted User] wrote:

anything stuck in a loft for more than 6 months is obviously not needed so should be chucked out.

Hmm, I'm not chucking out my summer clothes just yet..