It can be very stressful if you have too many items while your house is small. This condition makes it difficult for you to find enough storage space for your items. However, you can get around this by installing loft boarding. This instalment will help you maximise space to store items without having to change the shape of the house.
The installation process is quite simple and does not take long. In this case, you only need to make sure the size of your attic is suitable for installing an additional floor and is able to accommodate heavy loads. That way, you can make your house tidier by storing items that are rarely used in your loft. To find out more, this article provides you with information guides that you can follow.
What does loft boarding mean?
Loft boarding is the process of adding a floor or board in the empty or rarely used attic area of your house. By installing this floor, you can utilise the space that was previously just a dust storage area into a tidier and more useful area. For example, you can store seasonal items, rarely used household equipment, or even create additional workspace if the roof is large.
The main benefit of loft boarding is that it provides extra space without having to make major changes to your house. You don't need to build additional rooms or expand the house. You just need to see the existing space. In addition, installing a floor in the roof area can also help you keep the temperature of your house stable. This is because a neatly closed attic area can help keep the temperature from outside from entering the house directly.
If you are interested in installing a board on your roof, there are several things to consider, such as the strength of the attic frame structure, ventilation, and access to the roof using a folding ladder. It is also important to use strong but lightweight materials so that they are safe to use. You can contact a professional service that is experienced in this field to ensure the results are safe, neat, and durable.
Benefits of loft boarding
There are several benefits that you can get from installing loft boarding at home. These benefits include additional space, ease of storing items, increased home insulation, higher home resale value, and even the potential to earn additional income. With these benefits, having a space on your home’s roof can be profitable. To find out more, here is an explanation of the benefits you get:
- Additional space: By installing loft boarding, you can turn the attic or the upper part of the ceiling of your house that was previously empty into an extra space.
- Easier storage: The roof space gives you a neat and easily accessible storage space.
- Maintaining home insulation: Installing an attic can help you keep the temperature in your house stable. Because the top of the house is closed and arranged properly, the heat from below does not immediately disappear to the roof. As a result, the cold air from above does not directly enter the house.
- Increase home value: An additional space on the roof can also increase the selling value of your home. Homes that have loft boarding and neat storage are usually more attractive to prospective buyers.
- Opportunity to earn additional income: If you convert your attic into a functional space, such as a workspace or a small rental place, you can even earn additional income.
Types of loft boarding
There are several types of loft boarding to maximise your space in your home. These types include chipboard, OSB, plywood, MDF, insulated, reinforced, and moisture-resistant types. All of these types have significant differences that lie in the basic materials, functions, installation processes, and the capacity that can accommodate the load within the space. However, all of these methods have their own advantages and disadvantages.
By understanding the benefits and drawbacks of each boarding loft type, you can get information that can help you in choosing the right type for the space in your home. In addition, you can also get an estimate of the budget that you will spend because each type of loft uses different basic materials. To find out more, here is the explanation!
Chipboard
Chipboard is a type of loft boarding that uses wood particles. These wood particles can be in wood chips, flakes, or sawdust. This material is then glued with an adhesive material called resin. After that, the sheet is then pressed and heated to create a solid and strong board. That way, you can use this board as a floor in your attic. As it uses wood particles as its basic material, chipboard has a cheaper price and is easy to install.
Oriented Strand Board (OSB)
This loft type uses wood strands as the basic material, which are also collected into one and then glued using synthetic resin or wax. That way, this material can produce a strong and smooth layer of wood. This is similar to a chipboard. The difference between the two lies only in the use of wood, where the chipboard uses glued wood particles. Meanwhile, the OSB type is made of oriented wood fibre material. That way, you can use this type of OSB to accommodate objects with medium loads.
Plywood
This type uses plywood as the basic material in the loft boarding process. Plywood is a layer of wood that is glued together following the direction of the wood grain, which is perpendicular to each other. For that reason, the use of plywood can help you create a loft that can withstand very heavy loads. However, the use of this type is quite expensive compared to other types. This is because of the quality of the wood used, its resistance to withstand heavy loads, and the slightly complicated manufacturing process.
Medium Density Fibreboard (MDF)
Medium-density fibreboard (MDF) is a type of wood board that uses compressed wood fibres and resin as its base material. It sounds similar to the type of chipboard that also uses sawdust, but the difference lies in its quality. In this case, the type of chipboard uses rather coarse sawdust, while MDF uses very fine sawdust. As a result, MDF can create a stronger wood layer than chipboard. Because of this, MDF has a smoother surface texture and is easy to paint.
Insulated
As the name implies, this type uses insulating material as the basic material for its installation. Using insulating material in loft boarding can help you reduce energy use by reducing heat loss through the insulated floors. Having that in mind, using this type can help you to control the temperature in your home.
Moisture-Resistant
This loft boarding type uses materials that are resistant to moisture, such as P5 chipboard. You can use this type for areas that are close to water or that may experience moisture, such as condensation areas. Because of its moisture-resistant nature, this type is fairly expensive compared to other types.
Step-by-step guide to boarding a loft
There are several steps you can follow to board a loft. It includes assessing the loft, preparing the materials and tools, and so on until the job is finished. These steps can be your guide in installing flooring for your home's attic. To find out more, here is the explanation:
- Plan your space: Decide how much space you want to use for storage. Focus only on the areas you will use so that the space does not feel cramped and you can still easily take your things.
- Prepare the materials and tools: The quality of the materials is very important so that the loft is strong and durable. For the tools and materials, you can use a chipboard or plywood, an electric screwdriver, a ladder, a metre and pencil, and loft legs if needed.
- Install insulation layer: If your attic already has insulation, make sure you put it down first before installing the loft boarding. Create some spaces for air circulation so that your roof does not get damp and mouldy.
- Use loft legs if necessary: If you want the floor to be a little higher or want the boards not to press the insulation too hard, you can install special supports called loft legs. This also helps to keep air flowing and prevent moisture.
- Cut and install boards: Measure and cut the boards according to the size of the space. Install the boards one by one and make sure they are firmly attached to the joists or supports. Use screws to secure the boards so they don't shift.
- Finishing and safety check: Once all the loft boarding is installed, double-check the stability of the floor. Make sure there are no wobbly or protruding boards. You can also add finishing touches, such as painting them or providing moisture-proof protection.
Final thought
Loft boarding is the right solution for small houses. This is because it can give you additional space to store all your unused items. That way, your house can look neater and more spacious. However, this installation process requires in-depth knowledge of the roofing system and the right renovation process.
To understand it, the College of Contract Management provides several learning topics related to this. These topics consist of various discussions. Each discussion also contains a lot of important information that can improve your understanding and also your practical skills that can be used in the world of work. If you want to know more information, you can contact our team.
