Loft Flooring Advice for Newbie

sho_me_da_money

Hi Community,

I recently had an entire Chimney stack removed (2 x Chimney breasts - one in the living room and one in the bedroom AND the chimney on the roof). The loft is a mess - dust and black soot in many places, bricks scattered in random places, insulation curled and full of dust etc. In fact, here is a video I took this morning spanning across the loft as I am stood on the hatch ladder:

https://youtu.be/yRpZ8fWp3y4

From this video, are you able advise what joists I currently have? Im unable to climb in and walk around the loft to see the entire layout. However, if the joists I immediately see near at the hatch are anything to go by then perhaps this image helps?:

https://ibb.co/qJxFb4p

The reason for this thread because I was looking for some advice for laying a floor (18mm chipboard flooring) but have no idea on how to go about it. I have read online you can:

1. Use loft legs and fix them to the existing joists and then install the flooring on top.

2. Use 4x2 and fix them perpendicular to the existing joists and then install the flooring on top

The general advice seems to be that I should [b]not[/b] board on-top of the original joists and compress the insulation as it will lose its a significant portion of its thermal properties.

I would be grateful if you could advise the best way carry this out please?

Should I replace the existing insulation or just pile new insulation on top of the existing dirty insulation to the height of the new/future framework e.g. if I affix loft legs or 4x2, I would add x value of height from the existing joist.

Is the first job to clear out the bricks and vacuum up? 

The reason i don't like the loft legs is because the combined height of the leg + flooring would approximately add 36 cm of height from the top of the existing joist.  This means I would be really crouched as I stand in the loft area.

Thank you for your help.

grumbler

Yes, the joists are the same all over the loft.  I don't like legs; extra joists on top of the existing ones (and long enough for the ends to rest on the supporting walls) would be my preferred option. You'll  need loads of them - order from some local timber merchant rather than DIY stores.

Yes, all bricks and rubble are best to be removed. Vacuuming could be good, but a domestic vacuum will struggle with this amount of dirt, especially if it's not bagless.

Old insulation I would keep. It's too bulky and dusty to get rid of, but good enough for insulation and the dust doesn't matter when it's under the boards.

FreeBear

Looks like you have 3x2 (75mm x 50mm) joists holding up a lath & plaster ceiling - Very similar to what I have..

Loft legs come in two common lengths - 175mm and 300mm. Using the shorter would enable you to have 250mm of fibreglass/rockwool insulation. I would regard this as a minimum in today's climate - Recommended level is currently 270mm.

Often, getting decent lengths of timber up in to a loft can be a real challenge. Loft legs are small enough to lob up through the hatch - Yes, fitting them is time consuming, but with a cordless screwdriver and a bit of prep work beforehand, not too arduous.

Chickereeeee

I used Loft Lifters. I liked them as they were adjustable, for different height joists, and only needed one screw per leg to attach to a joist. You could also cut them, if needed. Sadly, they are made in Ireland, it seems, and look to be unavailable in the UK now, maybe due to Brexit.

Anyhow, loft legs are only 175mm tall. Added to 18mm floor, makes under 200mm added height, on top of the joist. I don't know where your 36cm comes from?

sho_me_da_money

Chickereeeee said:

I used Loft Lifters. I liked them as they were adjustable, for different height joists, and only needed one screw per leg to attach to a joist. You could also cut them, if needed. Sadly, they are made in Ireland, it seems, and look to be unavailable in the UK now, maybe due to Brexit.

Anyhow, loft legs are only 175mm tall. Added to 18mm floor, makes under 200mm added height, on top of the joist. I don't know where your 36cm comes from?

Sorry you are right. Not 36cm but rather approximately 20cm.

The reason why I was umming and ahhing here was because my loft ladder was rated to be installed to a floor to loft floorboard height of 2.6m. Here are the numbers:

Ladder Spec

Ladder is specc’ed for a max floor to loft floorboard height of 2.6m/260cm/2600mm

Current Situation

• 2.5m/250cm/2500mm Floor to top of Floor Joist Height

 Future Situation with Loft Legs

• 17.5cm/175mm - Loft Leg Height
• 1.85cm/18.5mm – Floorboard Height
• 2.69m/269cm/2693.5mm – Floor to top of Floorboard Height

Need to shave off 9cm or get new ladder specc'ed for a 2.7m height.

By adding 20cm of height to the existing joists, the floor to loft floorboard height would become approximately 2.69m. Meaning, when I stand on the last step of the ladder, I will need t lift up and over kinda to plant my foot on the floor as opposed to side stepping onto the floor.

It's only a 9cm difference but if only those loft legs were 8.5cm high and id be as sweet as a nut.

STOP THE PRESS - I have just seen 'Loft Lifters'. It seems like they are adjustable! Whats the lowest height these go to?

sho_me_da_money

FreeBear said:

Looks like you have 3x2 (75mm x 50mm) joists holding up a lath & plaster ceiling - Very similar to what I have..

Loft legs come in two common lengths - 175mm and 300mm. Using the shorter would enable you to have 250mm of fibreglass/rockwool insulation. I would regard this as a minimum in today's climate - Recommended level is currently 270mm.

Often, getting decent lengths of timber up in to a loft can be a real challenge. Loft legs are small enough to lob up through the hatch - Yes, fitting them is time consuming, but with a cordless screwdriver and a bit of prep work beforehand, not too arduous.

Free bear, given that I have 3 x 2s.

If I add loft legs OR 4 x 2s perpendicular, does that mean I might be able to walk up there or would the strength be sufficient for storage only?

Chickereeeee

Loft Lifters are 180mm high, and can be increased a couple of cm by a screw thread. BUT you can cut the pillar to almost any height you want with a hacksaw.

Don't forget, you could leave the ladder attached as it is now, and just have a low 'landing stage' to allow you to step off the ladder easily. Then you can simply step up to the next level. This would not affect heat loss much, as you would still have some insulation material AND 18mm of chipboard under the landing stage.

sho_me_da_money

Chickereeeee said:

Loft Lifters are 180mm high, and can be increased a couple of cm by a screw thread. BUT you can cut the pillar to almost any height you want with a hacksaw.

Don't forget, you could leave the ladder attached as it is now, and just have a low 'landing stage' to allow you to step off the ladder easily. Then you can simply step up to the next level. This would not affect heat loss much, as you would still have some insulation material AND 18mm of chipboard under the landing stage.

Im trying to visualise a low landing stage near the entry of the hatch. Any chance of a really rough drawing to show what this would look like please?

grumbler

sho_me_da_money said:

Chickereeeee said:

Loft Lifters are 180mm high, and can be increased a couple of cm by a screw thread. BUT you can cut the pillar to almost any height you want with a hacksaw.

Don't forget, you could leave the ladder attached as it is now, and just have a low 'landing stage' to allow you to step off the ladder easily. Then you can simply step up to the next level. This would not affect heat loss much, as you would still have some insulation material AND 18mm of chipboard under the landing stage.

Im trying to visualise a low landing stage near the entry of the hatch. Any chance of a really rough drawing to show what this would look like please?

Just leave a small area of the loft floor near the top of the ladder at the current level, thus creating a step to the new raised floor around.

sho_me_da_money

Thsnk you Mr. G

sho_me_da_money

Guys can I ask a weird question. I honestly have no clues about heights of 4x2s, 3x2s etc.

A poster kindly explained that the joists I have are 3 x 2s. If opted to go with running 4x2s perpendicular to the existing 3x2 joists, what height of insulation will I be able to achieve? Basically looking for the height from the bottom of the 3x2 to the top of the 4x2 if that makes sense?