How to install loft boards

Boarding your loft can provide a safe and clean space for storage for everything you need. Whether you need a place to put your Christmas decorations, old clothes, or anything else you want out of your main living area, a boarded loft will create new possibilities for you. 

Like with a lot of DIY tasks, boarding your loft can be easy if you are completely prepared and have the right tools and kit to hand. Here are some steps you can follow if you are wondering how to install loft boards quickly and effectively.

Get yourself prepared

Before you get started on boarding your loft, it is important to make sure that you have got everything you need. To get the job done properly you will need a jigsaw and workbench, hammer, screwdrivers, drill, tape measure, and a pencil. A loft can be a tight and dusty environment to work in, so gloves and a face mask are also advised to prevent you breathing in too much dust.

Measuring up: How many loft boards do I need?

You should start by working out the area that you need the boards to cover. Keep in mind that the majority of people only board the central area of their loft because the angle of the roof normally makes the edges less advantageous for storage and more difficult to get to. Standard loft boards typically come in two different sizes: 2,400mm x 600mm and 1,220mm x 320mm, both of which are 18mm thick. Remember to double check and be certain that the boards you select will actually fit through your loft hatch or you will have problems!

Top tip – thinking ahead

When your loft is fully boarded, the likelihood is you will be getting a lot more use out of it. With this in mind, you might want to think about adding a pull-down ladder and wiring in some lighting to make it safer and easier to access whenever you need to.

Starting work

Put on your protective clothing and put a board between the ceiling joists to function as a temporary work platform. Now you can start putting the boards in place. For added strength, boards can be laid in a staggered pattern, so joins can’t all line up and form a weak point. Be careful not to trap any wires that are running through your loft and cut the boards to give you easy access to the tops of the light fittings, which you are likely to come across.

Top tip- issues with insulation

For a lot of UK houses, it is recommended that you have at least 270mm of insulation on the loft floor, meaning that your insulating material will build up above the level of the joists, making it tricky to attach boards over the top. Flattening down the insulation will negatively affect its performance, so it would be better to remove the extra layers that are above the level of the joists and connect them to the roof instead, using twine and nails to keep them in place.

Making it permanent

When you are confident that you have placed your boards in a way that provides a safe space to stand on and store your things, you can then screw them into place. You should drill two or three pilot holes along the edge of each board, aligning with the centre of the joist below and fix them into place using screws.

Top tip – a useful storage solution

To get the most out of your newly created storage area you should try to keep it organised and free from clutter. For example, get some plastic storage crates as these can stack on top of each other to protect your possessions from dust.