Insulating over boards, or not - advice appreciated.

[Grenage]

Hi there,

The insulation in my loft is not great; probably originally 100mm, but it's barren in places, and generally pants. The centre of the loft is boarded, most likely with more of the same pants insulation. I don't have anything stored in the loft.

I'm going to have to bring the boards up to check and no doubt reinsulate, and that will give me 100mm. I want to put 300mm down (maybe 400mm so I don't have to go up there again), so I figure that I have two options:

1) Put down 100mm, put the boards back, and then put the rest across the top of the boards and the sides of the loft (up to the soffits).

2) Tear out the boards, and just insulate.

At some point I might need to gain access, so the boards would be handy, even though I'd have to move the insulation first. Will the boards hinder performance, or inscrease the chances of moisture? My gut says that it should be ok, but as I'm not experienced with this sort of thing, it pays to ask those who are.

 

[UrbanGreen]

I'd tear out the boards. Lofts shouldn't be used to store anything. If you store it in the loft then you probably don't need it again. So get rid and recycle it.

It might be worth taking out all the current insulation and getting it done again for free. Energy companies won't top up insulation for nothing but they will often install new insulation.

Check before you take my advise.