Our Easy Step by Step Guide on How to Board a Loft
By knowing how to board a loft safely means you can easily maximise the space in your loft and utilise it for your needs. This is useful when you need more storage space in your home and your loft space is currently untouched. Loft boarding is a great solution to be able to maximise your loft and store all the things you don't need all year round, like your abundance of christmas decorations or suitcases for holidays.
To know how to board a loft, read on and follow our step by step guide.
How to Board a Loft Safely in 4 Easy Steps
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Preparation
Before starting any DIY job, safety is the key. Below you can find our safety gear checklist and the tool checklist so that you have everything you need to perform the job correctly.
Advised safety gear:
- Gloves
- Overalls (disposable)
- A dust mask
- Protective eyewear
- Sensible footwear
Tools you’ll need:
- Tape measure
- Pencil
- Jigsaw
- Workbench
- Hammer
- Screwdrivers
- Drill
2. Assess and Measure
Before you start to lay any boards or measure the space, check the depth of your insulation. For it to be thermally effective, mineral wool insulation needs to be at the current government recommended depth of between 250mm-270mm. If you are unsure about loft insulation or how to lay it, refer to our guide on how to insulate your loft.
After establishing your insulation depth, it’s now time to measure the area the boards will cover. Be sure to note it is not necessary to board your entire loft, many people only focus on the central area in their loft as the roof can sometimes hinder access. Standard loft boards come in two different sizes; 2400mm x 600mm and 1220mm x 320mm; both of which are 18mm thick. Consider the size of your loft hatch as the boards you use will have to fit through.
3. Laying the Boards
Before starting the work, make sure you're wearing your protective gear to minimise injury. A top tip from us is to place a board between the ceiling joists to act as a temporary work platform, this makes for a more stable platform when working. Place the boards into the desired space, lay them in a staggered pattern so that the joins don't line up and create a weak point.
Look out for any wires running through your loft when placing and cutting the boards. Consider loft lighting, and cut the boards to make way for access to the tops of the light fittings.
Something to Consider:
Running along the loft, you might experience gaps as the staggered pattern continues. These gaps can be filled with pieces of infill which simply need to be cut as you go along. If necessary, use a hammer to lightly tap the infill pieces into place before securing them with screws as you would with normal-sized loft boards.
4. Installation
Once the boards are in the desired position, one that allows easy access and enough storage room; youre ready to make the positions permanent. Drill 2 or 3 pilot holes along the edge of each board, lining up with the centre of the joist below and fix them into place with screws.
*Please note we do not provide services that fit loft boards. We also recommend that if you are not familiar with DIY activities, you get a professional to board your loft.
We hope our easy guide on how to board a loft has helped you in successfully completing this task. In creating new space in your loft you might find that you are in need of a new loft ladder to provide safer access to this new storage space. Check out a few of our loft ladders below.
High Quality and Safe Loft Ladders from Loft Centre
The Dolle Click 76 Timber Folding Loft Ladder
The ClickFix 76 is a versatile and easy to assemble loft ladder. This ladder offers a 3 stage process of clicking together the casing, ladder and trap door without the use of tools for a much quicker and simpler assembly.
Looking for a sturdy option? Check out these options...
Dolle ClickFix Thermo Comfort Steel Folding Loft Ladder
Dolle ClickFix Thermo Comfort loft ladder provides a sturdy, well-designed steel folding loft ladder with comfortable deep treads in an anthracite colour. A white finished wooden casing frame and trapdoor complement the ladder and provide a high-grade insulated product.
Columbus Piccolo Premium Aluminium Concertina Loft Ladder
The Piccolo Premium incorporates the same heavy duty aluminium ladder as our standard model, but with the additional benefit of being spring assisted. This makes the operation of the ladder even smoother and safer.
Contact Loft Centre Today
If you have any questions around loft ladders or which design could work in the space you have available, contact us today to speak to a friendly member of the team who can discuss all your options with you! Email us at sales@loftcentre.co.uk or call us on 01243 785246 and let us help you find the perfect loft ladder today.
