You’ve moved into your new home – it is small but a good size for your family as it is, and you know you can always board your loft to get more space – right? Wrong. This is a popular misconception in the world of home renovations, which we are going to talk you through in this blog. It can be easy to opt for the much cheaper option of boarding your loft compared to investing in a loft conversion, but it has a list of limitations.
Boarding your loft is the process of putting load-bearing planks over the hoists of your loft, to create a weight-bearing floor. This enables you to walk around in your loft and store more items without having to worry about falling through the ceiling! It is relatively cheap, and some people attempt to do it themselves, however this is not recommended as it is dangerous and needs an expert to install them safely.
What most homeowners do not realise, is the limitations of only boarding your loft space. Despite being able to now weight-bear and allow better access to the corners of your loft, it does not affect the available head height in your loft. You cannot create a useable room in your loft space without having the adequate headspace for you to move around in safely. Boarding your loft does not increase the amount of useable floor space either, as you will still be limited by the sloped eaves of your roof structure.
Another consideration is that boarding your loft incorrectly can lead to damage to your loft space. By using wood to cover any insulation in your loft, it can act as a thermal bridge, which compresses your insulation and causes moisture to collect in your insulation. This can create damp which can cause many issues with your home. It can cost thousands to repair damp damage in your loft, pushing you straight back to square one with much less money than you started with!
Whilst boarding your loft professionally has the benefit of creating some more useable storage space, it can be costly if you go on to decide you want more from your loft. Once you realise how much space you have in your loft, and how much is wasted under the eaves, you may reconsider a loft conversion. A loft conversion can add up to 20% of the value of your property, or twice the amount you spend on a loft conversion. However, boarding your loft is not seen as a home renovation that adds more space to your property, limiting the return you will see on the cost of having it done. It is not uncommon for homeowners to board their loft, install lighting fixtures and storage, before realising they need a loft conversion instead.
If you are unsure whether to board your loft or have a loft conversion, contact the Simply Loft team today on 0800 917 7571 to discuss the options available to you with a qualified surveyor.
