I would like to use loft space for storage, and want to utilise as much space as I can without compromising insulation and the strength of the joists, the span of joist is 24' with a mid support provided by an internal load bearing wall, so joist span is just 12' either side of this central internal wall, and the joists are 4"x2" spaced at 16" interval, supporting ceiling below and a layer of 250mm deep insulation.
My question is, can I lay additional 4" x 2" joists over existing joists and screw them together, at every 16" interval with long screws, so that two 4x2 joists can give an effectively larger depth for extra strength, as well as more depth to not only give me added load bearing strength but effectively give me higher depth for the 200mm ..insulation layer, these additional joists would be self supporting and won't bear hardly any weight on existing joists, though I understand additional weight will ultimately bear on foundations, and I am aware that you can get special floor legs designed to lay a raised floor in lofts so as to not squash insulin layer, but this does not add strength to the floor and increase load bearing capacity.
At some stage in future, I might want to fix Celotex 50mm thick insulation boards under the rafters, and just paint it white to reflect light and nothing elaborate as I am not trying to make a loft room for habitation purpose, but for storage only, there won't be any roof lights, etc, just one lamp holders with a 100watt bulb for lighting up the space when going in to retrieve or store items and belongings.
I am equally aware that as this space may not get natural ventilation, any vapours that may enter loft space from any leaks in the loft hatch may start forming condensation, if this starts happening I may provide some form of ventilation if this becomes a problem, the house is 1930s build.
In short, I want to try and create a space that looks close to a tidy looking room, but it cannot be used as a livable room, just one or two steps better than a dark, drafty loft, but two or three steps less than a livable accommodation.
Finally , please remember I am not making a proper loft conversion, so i hope I will not need to notify BC, any views or suggestions are welcome. Thanks in advance
Items that I would want to store are old clothes, still worth keeping, old computers and printers and monitors, old TV sets, radios, VCRs, DVD players, other household clutter, so nothing very heavy or such like, some car spare like 2 front wings, bonnet, boot lid, headlights, rear light clusters for a classic car, and so on, nothing major heavy like engines or gearboxes) and some DIY tools like compound saw, angle grinders, and smaller tools like chisel set, boxes of screws, etc etc things that i have no room for elsewhere in my house which is up to brink, and yes I am a semi hoarder, I don't like to throwing things that I see potential for.
My question is, can I lay additional 4" x 2" joists over existing joists and screw them together, at every 16" interval with long screws, so that two 4x2 joists can give an effectively larger depth for extra strength, as well as more depth to not only give me added load bearing strength but effectively give me higher depth for the 200mm ..insulation layer, these additional joists would be self supporting and won't bear hardly any weight on existing joists, though I understand additional weight will ultimately bear on foundations, and I am aware that you can get special floor legs designed to lay a raised floor in lofts so as to not squash insulin layer, but this does not add strength to the floor and increase load bearing capacity.
At some stage in future, I might want to fix Celotex 50mm thick insulation boards under the rafters, and just paint it white to reflect light and nothing elaborate as I am not trying to make a loft room for habitation purpose, but for storage only, there won't be any roof lights, etc, just one lamp holders with a 100watt bulb for lighting up the space when going in to retrieve or store items and belongings.
I am equally aware that as this space may not get natural ventilation, any vapours that may enter loft space from any leaks in the loft hatch may start forming condensation, if this starts happening I may provide some form of ventilation if this becomes a problem, the house is 1930s build.
In short, I want to try and create a space that looks close to a tidy looking room, but it cannot be used as a livable room, just one or two steps better than a dark, drafty loft, but two or three steps less than a livable accommodation.
Finally , please remember I am not making a proper loft conversion, so i hope I will not need to notify BC, any views or suggestions are welcome. Thanks in advance
Items that I would want to store are old clothes, still worth keeping, old computers and printers and monitors, old TV sets, radios, VCRs, DVD players, other household clutter, so nothing very heavy or such like, some car spare like 2 front wings, bonnet, boot lid, headlights, rear light clusters for a classic car, and so on, nothing major heavy like engines or gearboxes) and some DIY tools like compound saw, angle grinders, and smaller tools like chisel set, boxes of screws, etc etc things that i have no room for elsewhere in my house which is up to brink, and yes I am a semi hoarder, I don't like to throwing things that I see potential for.
Last edited:
