Boarding a loft..

Phil · 13th August 2021, 13:11

Hello,

I'm guessing lots of you have done this yourselves...

I want to board my loft, but it's already been insulated prior to my ownership, leaving certificates stapled to the rafters. I think the work has been registered on a database somewhere.. I seem to recall my solicitor finding something on it when I bought the house.

Anyhow, I want to get my loft boarded and don't want to run into any issues when I sell the house with building regs etc..

So, to board a loft for storage, do I need to get a building regs certificate?

Reason for asking, when I sold my last house, it had prehistoric UPVC double glazing that predated FENSA.
Because it predated FENSA I didn't have a certificate.
It caused all sorts of problems when selling as they wanted proof of the age of the windows... The windows predated my ownership!

I just want to do this properly so I don't have any problems when I come to sell!

macafee2 · 13th August 2021, 13:17

Are you thinking of removing some existing insulation so boards can be fitted?
I seem to recall that you can get "feet" to support your new boards and the feet sit on the joists so your boards are above the insulation. You need to check your roof/ceiling is strong enough to support the weight of boards, what you put up there and your weight.

I've not answered your question but I hope given you something to think about.

Sold my house earlier this year and had boarded loft, nothing was mentioned about building regs

macafee2

Phil · 13th August 2021, 15:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by macafee2

Are you thinking of removing some existing insulation so boards can be fitted?
I seem to recall that you can get "feet" to support your new boards and the feet sit on the joists so your boards are above the insulation. You need to check your roof/ceiling is strong enough to support the weight of boards, what you put up there and your weight.

I've not answered your question but I hope given you something to think about.

Sold my house earlier this year and had boarded loft, nothing was mentioned about building regs

macafee2

No, I don't intend to remove any insulation, rather use the feet as you mentioned.
I believe that the roof joists are supposed to be quite capable of carrying a heavy load, but that being said, I certainly won't be putting anything heavy up there as they don't look very strong to me.
Rather I just want to store the usual clutter that gets collected, such as Christmas decorations, suitcases and the odd box of memorable effects....

My main worry is complications when I come to sell. Once bitten and all that...
It is reassuring that you didn't encounter any of that though.

steve-45 · 13th August 2021, 15:51

I sold a house 18 months ago with a part boarded loft - not mentioned anywhere. All the surveyor did was to poke his head through the loft hatch.

KWIL · 13th August 2021, 15:57

I too have the notice stapled to the rafters, however the loft is boarded over the original 100 mm insulation and the new was added all around the boarded area.

Nige B · 13th August 2021, 16:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phil

No, I don't intend to remove any insulation, rather use the feet as you mentioned.
I believe that the roof joists are supposed to be quite capable of carrying a heavy load, but that being said, I certainly won't be putting anything heavy up there as they don't look very strong to me.
Rather I just want to store the usual clutter that gets collected, such as Christmas decorations, suitcases and the odd box of memorable effects....

My main worry is complications when I come to sell. Once bitten and all that...
It is reassuring that you didn't encounter any of that though.

If you screw the boards down , can easily be taken back out come sale time..The legs mentioned in the other posts are in B and q ..

Phil · 13th August 2021, 22:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nige B

If you screw the boards down , can easily be taken back out come sale time..The legs mentioned in the other posts are in B and q ..

Thanks Nige, that's a very good point.

Phil · 13th August 2021, 22:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve-45

I sold a house 18 months ago with a part boarded loft - not mentioned anywhere. All the surveyor did was to poke his head through the loft hatch.

That's encouraging. Thank you.

Quote:

Originally Posted by KWIL

I too have the notice stapled to the rafters, however the loft is boarded over the original 100 mm insulation and the new was added all around the boarded area.

Thank you. That's good to hear.

Phil th Barrow · 14th August 2021, 08:43

I used interlocking boards. Reason; They are not perminat and niether are building regs.

coolguy · 14th August 2021, 09:20

Boarding a loft is not the potential problem. It is the use to which it is to be put. Access is the biggest problem. For example, if a loft is to be used as a bedroom, a loft ladder or spiral staircase will not pass regulations - a permanent structure with a minimum amount of room to give a gradual rise (less than 45 degrees) is required. For storage, no problem. It's all about fire safety.

13th August 2021, 13:11	#1
Phil This is my second home Rover 75 CDT Connoisseur SE Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Wales Posts: 12,227 Thanks: 469 Thanked 523 Times in 241 Posts	Boarding a loft.. Hello, I'm guessing lots of you have done this yourselves... I want to board my loft, but it's already been insulated prior to my ownership, leaving certificates stapled to the rafters. I think the work has been registered on a database somewhere.. I seem to recall my solicitor finding something on it when I bought the house. Anyhow, I want to get my loft boarded and don't want to run into any issues when I sell the house with building regs etc.. So, to board a loft for storage, do I need to get a building regs certificate? Reason for asking, when I sold my last house, it had prehistoric UPVC double glazing that predated FENSA. Because it predated FENSA I didn't have a certificate. It caused all sorts of problems when selling as they wanted proof of the age of the windows... The windows predated my ownership! I just want to do this properly so I don't have any problems when I come to sell! __________________

14th August 2021, 08:43	#9
Phil th Barrow Gets stuck in " NOW SOLD" :-( Rover 75 Conni Auto SE Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Stoke Posts: 896 Thanks: 424 Thanked 214 Times in 163 Posts	I used interlocking boards. Reason; They are not perminat and niether are building regs. __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

13th August 2021, 13:17	#2
macafee2 This is my second home Rover 75 Saloon & Tourer Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Lincoln Posts: 14,912 Thanks: 1,630 Thanked 3,032 Times in 2,181 Posts	Are you thinking of removing some existing insulation so boards can be fitted? I seem to recall that you can get "feet" to support your new boards and the feet sit on the joists so your boards are above the insulation. You need to check your roof/ceiling is strong enough to support the weight of boards, what you put up there and your weight. I've not answered your question but I hope given you something to think about. Sold my house earlier this year and had boarded loft, nothing was mentioned about building regs macafee2

13th August 2021, 15:51	#4
steve-45 This is my second home Rover 75 Saloon CDTi Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Belvedere Posts: 4,076 Thanks: 108 Thanked 1,089 Times in 774 Posts	I sold a house 18 months ago with a part boarded loft - not mentioned anywhere. All the surveyor did was to poke his head through the loft hatch.

13th August 2021, 15:57	#5
KWIL Precise Rover 75 Tourer 2.5KV6 Connoisseur SE Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Fleet Posts: 2,952 Thanks: 630 Thanked 617 Times in 480 Posts	I too have the notice stapled to the rafters, however the loft is boarded over the original 100 mm insulation and the new was added all around the boarded area.

14th August 2021, 09:20	#10
coolguy Coolguy Rover 75 CDT Tourer Auto, Rover 75 2.0 Connoisseur Auto, MG ZT 2.5 Auto and MG ZT Cdti Auto (Monogra Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Finedon Posts: 1,896 Thanks: 933 Thanked 638 Times in 430 Posts	Boarding a loft is not the potential problem. It is the use to which it is to be put. Access is the biggest problem. For example, if a loft is to be used as a bedroom, a loft ladder or spiral staircase will not pass regulations - a permanent structure with a minimum amount of room to give a gradual rise (less than 45 degrees) is required. For storage, no problem. It's all about fire safety.