Once the roof is clear and closed, the loft has to be put back. It is a job most Hadleigh households can do themselves, and it is easy to do it in a way that stores up problems.
The order
- Control work first. Nothing goes back into an occupied roof space
- Proofing second. Fresh insulation under an open roof is bedding for the next animal
- Then clear. Contaminated material, nesting material, cached food and debris
- Then any other trades. The electrician for gnawed cable, a plumber for damaged pipework or lagging, a roofer for the covering
- Then insulate, and put belongings back last
Clearing safely
Gloves, a fitted mask, eye protection and long sleeves. Ventilate the space — open the hatch and any roof vents. Damp material down with a light mist rather than sweeping or hoovering it dry, because dry dust in an enclosed roof space is what you are trying to avoid. Bag it as you go rather than moving it about.
Mineral wool is an irritant in its own right, quite apart from contamination. Skin, eyes and airways all want covering, and it is worth changing clothes afterwards rather than sitting down in them.
Laying it properly
- Two layers, crossed. The first between the joists, the second across them at right angles. That covers the joists themselves, which are a thermal bridge
- Consistent depth, right across the ceiling. Current guidance is for a substantial depth — considerably more than most older lofts were built with
- Out to the eaves, without blocking them. Ventilation at the eaves has to be maintained, which is what eaves vent trays are for
- Do not compress it. Squashed insulation does not insulate. If the loft is boarded, the boards should be raised on battens above the insulation rather than laid on top of it
- Insulate the hatch and draught-seal it. It is a large cold spot and it is nearly always forgotten
- Leave pipes and tanks lagged and not insulated underneath. Warmth from below is what stops them freezing
The one that catches people out. Recessed downlighters below the ceiling need clearance from insulation unless they are a fire-rated type designed to be covered. Check before laying material over them.
Storing things afterwards
Rigid plastic boxes with clip-on lids rather than cardboard; on raised boarding rather than sitting in the wool; nothing soft left loose; and anything irreplaceable kept somewhere other than an unheated, uninspected roof space.
When to get it done rather than do it
Where the loft is large, awkward, unboarded, or where there is substantial contamination, it is worth having done. It is also worth checking whether any current energy-efficiency scheme would cover the work before paying for it outright.
Questions
Can I lay new insulation over the old?
Over sound, uncontaminated material, yes — crossed at right angles. Over soiled material, no. Remove that first.
How deep should it be?
Current guidance is for a substantial depth, well beyond what most older lofts have. Check the current recommended figure before buying.
Can I board over it for storage?
Only on battens that raise the boards above the insulation. Boarding directly onto it compresses it and defeats the point.
Squirrel Control Hadleigh
Squirrel control in Hadleigh is £280 fixed cost. Proofing work, where it is needed afterwards, is £180. Call 01502 630 122 and tell us what you have heard or seen.
For squirrel control in Hadleigh, call 01502 630 122, or read the Hadleigh squirrel control page.