How Much to Board My Loft?

Do you live in a house where storage space is at a premium, and it just seems like there is clutter everywhere?

Maybe you wish you could put all the boxes of Christmas decorations out of the way and out of your immediate living space.

Boarding out your loft is one of the quickest ways to create storage space for all your surplus belongings, and in most homes, the space is already there – it just needs to be made usable.

In this article, we’ll be discussing how much it costs to board a loft, what affects the cost of boarding a loft, how to save money when boarding your loft, what’s involved in boarding your loft and how to find and hire someone to board your loft.

If you’re sick and tired of seeing your seasonal items clutter up your living space, boarding up your loft space might give you the extra space you need to free up your home. Keep reading to find out how.

How Much Does It Cost to Board a Loft?

There are two common scenarios when it comes to loft boarding:

• Partially boarding the loft space to create a small storage area close to the loft hatch and under eight square metres
• Full loft floor boarding for the typical detached house including extending the floor joist height and insulation

As with all home renovations, the price you can expect to pay will be directly impacted by the size of the space you’re dealing with.

JOB	ESTIMATED COST	TIME REQUIRED
Board small loft (10 sqm)	£800 to £1,100	1 day
Board medium loft (15 sqm)	£1,100 to £1,500	1 day
Board large loft (20 sqm)	£1,500 to £2,000	1 to 2 days
Board extra-large loft (30 sqm)	£2,000 to £2,400	1 to 2 days
Insulate small loft	£240 to £390	2 to 3 hours
Insulate medium loft	£400 to £650	3 to 4 hours
Insulate large loft	£500 to £800	4 to 6 hours
Insulate extra-large loft	£800 to £1,300	6 to 8 hours

Both scenarios above can be achieved by an accomplished DIYer, who has the time, tools and skill.

The first scenario is relatively common as you can purchase the materials at the trade counters of building supplies companies. Factors that may increase your estimate include:

• Lack of access, with the tradesman needing to make space for work
• A different specification of floorboards (18mm chipboard has been used in this example)
• Additional requirements, such as widening the loft hatch or replacing the loft ladder, which will significantly increase your price

For a small loft of 10 square metres to be boarded, you can expect to pay between £800 to £1,100 and for the job to roughly take one day to complete. Within the same period, you can have a medium-sized loft of around 15 square metres to be completed for between £1,100 to £1,500.

Moving up the size scale, to board a large loft of around 20 square metres, you can expect a charge of between £1,500 to £2,000 and a timescale of between one and two days. For the same time frame, you could have an extra-large loft of 30 square metres boarded for £2,000 to £2,400.

If you want to insulate your loft space, for a small space this will cost between £240 to £390, and take between two to three hours. For three to four hours’ work, you can have your medium-sized loft insulated for between £400 to £650.

For larger spaces, it’ll be between £500 to £800, taking between four to six hours; whereas an extra-large loft space would cost between £800 to £1,300, taking between six to eight hours to complete.

What Affects the Cost of Boarding a Loft?

There are a few factors that affect the cost of boarding a loft – so if you’re wanting to make the most cost-effective decision possible, it’s best to consider these when planning your project.

Loft Size

First and foremost, the size of your loft will impact the price you’re likely to pay.

This is non-negotiable, so it’s best to consider the size of your space and your budget before you get started to see what other aspects you can cut back on or afford to splurge on.

Getting the loft boarded is the most important factor, so once you’ve got that cost covered, you can look to spend elsewhere, too.

Insulation

B&Q recommend that there is at least 270mm of insulation on the loft floor, so insulating your loft while it’s being boarded is an expense you need to factor in.

Loose-fill insulation is the most affordable choice, with blanket insulation next. Blown insulation is the most expensive option, so depending on your budget and your preference you can hope to pick a suitable tier for your needs.

Access

You’ll likely want to get into your loft space at some point to hide away some unused suitcases or boxes for moving house – so access is a key requirement to allow that.

Do you need a new, or bigger hatch to allow for entry? Or, if you have nothing in place, could something like a loft ladder be a good addition?

There are some sophisticated options on the market with retractable features or more basic options to cater for budget-friendly styles.

Finishes

This is an area where costs can skyrocket quickly if you’re not careful – but it’s also the area that is the most optional, so you can choose to skip this if you’re working to a tight budget.

Will you want more storage built into the space to help to keep your household junk out of the way? Or will you want some electricity wired up there to illuminate the space?

All of these are optional extras but are areas where the costs can inflate if you’re not careful.

How Can I Save Money When Boarding My Loft?

With costs of loft boarding easily creeping into the thousands, there are some simple ways to keep the costs low and budget-friendly.

Choose Wisely

If you’re opting for some insulation too, loose-fill insulation is the cheapest option. Typically natural varieties are more expensive than artificial, so if you’re working to a budget, there are cheaper options available.

Skip on the Extras

You don’t need to do everything at once with your loft boarding project. If you want to save your storage solution or wiring for electricity for another day (or month), you can do that.

It’s better to get the job of boarding done properly and correctly than it is to choose a budget trader to do the job quickly and cheaply – but perhaps not to the best standards.

Size Implications

It’s best to get your entire loft cavity boarded as it’s essentially wasted space otherwise, and will help to lock in your home’s heating to bring your fuel costs down.

However, you don’t need to get the entire space done if your budget doesn’t stretch that far. You can just choose a small area to be boarded, which will afford you the extra space you want and for a price you like the look of, too.

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Should I Board My Loft?

It’s common for homes to have loft spaces that go un-utilised because the flooring is not secure or the walls aren’t insulated, leaving the space as a dark and abandoned space while homeowners struggle to find room in their property.

Here are a few reasons why you should consider turning your attic into a dry, tidy and useful part of your home:

• It becomes a useful space for Christmas decorations or any other items that you only use seasonally
• Creates a larger and more spacious environment in your home
• Can be turned into, essentially, another room in the house that could be used as a bedroom, music room or cosy little hideaway
• A loft that has been properly boarded will save you money on your heating bills, as the insulation will trap the heat and keep your home warmer
• Having an attic space increases the value of your home

What’s Involved in Boarding a Loft?

Loft boarding, like almost all home renovation projects, does not have a straight answer without knowing the specific details of your needs.

A loft boarding specialist will need to visit your home and measure up first before they can give you a quotation. They’ll need to know:

• The area of the space to be covered up
• Whether there is existing insulation or not
• If you currently have access to the loft or will require a loft ladder and access hatch
• The style of space you would like to create, either basic boarding or turning your attic into a bespoke storage space

As you can see, there are many questions to answer, which will affect how much you pay for loft boarding. To put some figures around it for budgeting purposes, we will assume two standard options for loft boarding below and provide a general guide to loft boarding costs.

Depending on the size of your loft space, the floor joist height may need to be increased so that it can accommodate insulation. This should be done before any chipboard decking boards are laid, which your specialist will be able to advise you on.

How Do I Find and Hire Someone to Board My Loft?

Boarding a loft is a demanding job, requiring access to the proper tools and the knowledge to use them effectively.

Obtaining quotes from specialist traders ensures your job is done to your satisfaction, and you don’t waste valuable time in a simple job that may take months if you decide to do it yourself.

If your neighbour has had their loft boarded recently, ask them if they’d recommend their trader to you. This way, you’re saving valuable time in searching for someone reputable, and you’re getting a pre-vetted professional who you can trust.

Similarly, if your friends or family have had work done recently, it’s worth asking for a referral. Even if the trader is local to them, they may have connections in your area or would be willing to travel to you to complete your project.

If this isn’t possible, using HouseholdQuotes is a great way to get hold of a range of quotes in a short amount of time. From one search, you can compare a range of traders against each other to select the best match for you – without the need to jump from multiple websites.

To get access to vetted, skilled and local tradesmen to turn your loft into a neat storage space, click the button below to get started.

Comparing Quotes Could Save You Up To 40%:
 Click To Get Quotes

Ensuring the Professional Is the Right Fit

As with all home renovations, it’s best to get any quote or proposal in a written format so that it’s something physical to refer to at any point of the negotiation process – if things are said verbally, there’s no proof of them, so it’ll save you time when going back and forth between traders.

It’ll also save you hassle when the job has started if there are any discrepancies along the way between what’s been agreed and what someone thought had been agreed between parties. If a trader refuses to write down their quote, refuse to work with them.

Whether your trader has come from a referral or not, seeking out their previous experience is an important step to make sure you’re getting a good match for your needs. If someone hasn’t worked on a property of your size or a loft of your scope, keep searching until you find someone you’re confident in trusting with the job.

Similarly, requesting their references and any photos or videos of previous projects is a great way to check their work is what you’re after.

Finally, all reputable traders should carry their own insurance to cover themselves and you while they work, but it’s always best to check before any work starts. If a trader doesn’t have insurance or refuses to show you proof of it, it’s best to step away from that deal.

Final Checklist

Once you’ve decided that boarding your loft is the way to go, then finding the best-skilled contractor is the next step. Here’s our final checklist to make sure you’ve not missed anything out when planning your project:

• Use HouseholdQuotes to find a reputable trader and potentially save up to 40% on your project’s quote
• Have a specialist come out to assess your space and let you know what’s possible
• Consider insulating the space to make it more heat-efficient
• Do you have sufficient access? Will you need a ladder built-in or the hatch widening?
• Decide what additional extras you’d like – from electrics to built-in storage solutions
• Enjoy the extra floor space in your home (and the clutter-free rooms!)

 

Comparing Quotes Could Save You Up To 40%:
 Click To Get Quotes

Frequently Asked Questions