Attic Firewall - Where do I stand?

Davesnave

AnonRon wrote: »

A couple of weeks ago I stuck my head into the attic for the first time.

If someone is disabled then they'd have a reason not to, but it amazes me that people don't arrange look in the attic during viewings. It's not the most exciting part of a property, but quite a few things may be judged by spending 5 minutes looking around up there.

For example, after 5 minutes in ours, I'd noted that there was a leak in the flashing by the chimney,(bucket was a give-away!) two rafters were too short, the sarking felt was perished at the edges, there was no active woodworm, the wiring had been replaced professionally, and the water pipes and tank were lagged, but the insulation was minimal @ 100mm..

I'm not a builder and none of these things was hard to spot. Even easier would be an attic full of unwanted stuff, which might just be conveniently 'forgotten' by the vendor!

Tom99

I once bought a semi like that.
To start with my property did not have a loft hatch by my neighbour's did.
When a loft hatch was installed in my property my neighbour complained as she though the whole loft area of both houses belonged to her!

Mutton_Geoff

Fairly inexpensive to build one in blockwork.

Slithery

I don't need one - there's no Internet in my attic.

phill99

Mutton_Geoff wrote: »

Fairly inexpensive to build one in blockwork.

Even cheaper with stud work and fire resistant plasterboard

ANDY597

As others have said seems to be relatively common in some areas with older structures.

I'm converting my loft just now and despite having a cavity wall of brick already the building warrants specify that I must construct a secondary partition with a cavity, insulate and meet fire regulations.

Not a difficult job for you to resolve, and within the capabilities of a diyer but remember to get building warrant consent.

Really your options seems to be a stud with appropriate fire protection or block work.

If you ever plan to convert the space great time to get it done. Until then your going to have to either bite the bullet if it bothers you or wait for a neighbour conducive to splitting the cost.

Hope this note finds you well and with the aforementioned cake.

Mutton_Geoff

phill99 wrote: »

Even cheaper with stud work and fire resistant plasterboard

It is, but unless you put an alarm in your roof space (I usually install them in my lofts) then fire resistant is no match for the fireproof nature of blockwork. I'd rather my neighbours loft fire burned vertically and not horizontally across to my property.

km1423

Tom99 wrote: »

I once bought a semi like that.
To start with my property did not have a loft hatch by my neighbour's did.
When a loft hatch was installed in my property my neighbour complained as she though the whole loft area of both houses belonged to her!

Hahaha. I have never laughed so hard. More front than Sainsbury's:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

eddddy

AnonRon wrote: »

Attic Firewall - Where do I stand?

Ummm.... you always stand on the joists, and never between them.

Slithery

eddddy wrote: »

Ummm.... you always stand on the joists, and never between them.

I actually saw my dad do that into my bedroom about 30 years ago - frightened the life out of me.

Thanks eddddy, it's an amusing childhood experience that I'd completely forgotten about