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Ask The Trades › DIY Forum › Carpentry Questions › Hi

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Hi (Read 4377 times)

mrdogcat

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Hi
Nov 6^th, 2006, 5:04pm

Hi

I've just bought a new build house and want to lay a floor in the loft so I can store things up there.

Before I do this I was wondering if you could let me know what I should take into consideration first.

I've just started reading up on the internet about laying a floor and the main concern I have is knowing that the joists can take the weight of the wood and eventually the storage items...not to mention my weight!! How do I find this out and what would I need to do to strengthen them? The Joists are 1.5'x4'

Also, I have had spotlights fitted. Do I need to cut holes in the floor I am laying to allow heat to escape, is there a different method or is there nothing to worry about in that area?

Any other information would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Steve.

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sparky415

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Re: Hi
Reply #1 - Nov 6^th, 2006, 8:47pm

If you mean that you have down lights fitted you have a choice of what you can do with them,

You can get intumesent ‘top hats’ to cover the fittings before you board the loft (can be retro fitted but you might find this a pain in the ass)

Or how about leaving a square hole in the flooring, make a little surround and covering with chicken wire to stop stuff falling on the light

Or replace your down lights with the newer ‘fireproof’ down lights but you will probably find they are a different diameter

Sparky415 (Im sure someone will be along with some other ideas in a while)

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woodsmith

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Re: Hi
Reply #2 - Nov 7^th, 2006, 8:06am

If you have a modern house it will have a trussed roof, they are factory made and the strength of the whole structure is far greater than the small section timber would imply. Never be tempted to remove any of the bracing; I went to work at a house and the chap proudly showed me his model railway in the loft, he had removed all the strutts and when I took him outside and showed him how his roof was dipping he wasn't a happy bunny Roll Eyes

I wouldn't have though you would have enough space to board over downlighters with only 4", they need space above to disipate heat, you could counterbatten to give you the extra space but that would lose you some headroom.

The weight of the timber used to board should not be a problem, what do you intend to store up there?

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mrdogcat

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Re: Hi
Reply #3 - Nov 7^th, 2006, 3:03pm

So you're saying as long as I cut holes above the lights for air to escape from the halogen lights, the roof can take the weight?

I just plan on storing suitcases, ladders, Xmas decorations and boxes of "stuff". Nothing major - no model railways here!

The electrician that fitted them has placed covers over them, similar to the image below apart from mine are cube shaped and have ventilation holes on the sides:

Also do I need to leave a gap in the insulation around the firehood or can it touch (baring in mind the vent holes are on the sides.

Thanks for all your help.

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sparky415 Trade Member Offline Its more complicated than I first thought Posts: 679 Total Thanks: 0 For This Post: 0 Gender: Trade: Electrician	Re: Hi Reply #4 - Nov 7^th, 2006, 5:32pm As you are happy to have holes in the ‘floor’ and there’s already ‘tophats’ over the fittings, Sounds like you are sorted, If they are low voltage I would make sure the transformers are outside the ‘tophats’ I would leave a couple of inches of airspace around the ‘tophats’ for them to breath Sparky415
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woodsmith

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Re: Hi
Reply #5 - Nov 7^th, 2006, 5:43pm

Quote:

You should have no problems as long as your boxes of "stuff" aren't full of lead weights Grin

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mrdogcat GDPR opt-out Total Thanks: 137 For This Post: 0	Re: Hi Reply #6 - Nov 10^th, 2006, 3:51pm Ok I've finished it, and not a bad job either...I cut 25 3/14" holes for two spotlights and just noticed there are three in the bathroom!!! I'm going to have to lift up the boards again to drill some more holes. Oh well you live and learn. Thanks for all your help everyone.
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