janet
Member
- Messages
- 11
- Location
- Shropshire
Could someone please advise me on the best way to insulate the attic space? I have looked through the archives but would appreciate some help.
We have a late-Victorian, three storey brick house and I would like to use the upper storey as a play area for the children. The area has no ceiling as such; it has roof timbers (forgive the non-expert terminology) which support the slates. Most of the slates have old plaster on them but many don't and we have the occasional droppings of plaster on the floor. the timbers are sound, some evidence of woodworm. The attic is very cold as the wind blows quite freely through the gaps between the slates and the walls. I imagine this has helped to keep the timbers so sound. We live in a windy area and the gaps between the walls and roof are quite decent ones - we have bits of birds' nests dropping through and last year I had to rescue 2 swifts which has fallen out of their nests into the attic.
I want to make it a warmer area but also understand the need to keep the timbers well ventilated.
My thought was to fix say 2 batons onto the joists/roof timbers, leaving a gap between them for the air to flow freely and fix plasterboard onto these batons. If the plasterboard were fixed flush to the walls it would ensure a generous source of air above it because of the existing gaps between roof and walls. I would like to put insulation in as well but don't know what sort would be best and how to fix it.
Also, is it worth putting some sort of insulation in the existing floorboards to help keep the bedrooms below somewhat warmer - I hope this question won't reopen a can of worms...
Any ideas, please?
Many thanks,
kanet
We have a late-Victorian, three storey brick house and I would like to use the upper storey as a play area for the children. The area has no ceiling as such; it has roof timbers (forgive the non-expert terminology) which support the slates. Most of the slates have old plaster on them but many don't and we have the occasional droppings of plaster on the floor. the timbers are sound, some evidence of woodworm. The attic is very cold as the wind blows quite freely through the gaps between the slates and the walls. I imagine this has helped to keep the timbers so sound. We live in a windy area and the gaps between the walls and roof are quite decent ones - we have bits of birds' nests dropping through and last year I had to rescue 2 swifts which has fallen out of their nests into the attic.
I want to make it a warmer area but also understand the need to keep the timbers well ventilated.
My thought was to fix say 2 batons onto the joists/roof timbers, leaving a gap between them for the air to flow freely and fix plasterboard onto these batons. If the plasterboard were fixed flush to the walls it would ensure a generous source of air above it because of the existing gaps between roof and walls. I would like to put insulation in as well but don't know what sort would be best and how to fix it.
Also, is it worth putting some sort of insulation in the existing floorboards to help keep the bedrooms below somewhat warmer - I hope this question won't reopen a can of worms...
Any ideas, please?
Many thanks,
kanet