Improving attic insulation

BarraOG

Our attic is insulated with 100mm fibreglass insulation between the joists. My understanding is that I could improve this by laying 200mm insulation at right angles to this. Is that correct? However this would hide all the joists. How can I or others safely gain access around the attic in this case?

I have 15 old solid doors sitting in the garage, could I use these in any way or will sitting these on top of the insulation ruin its effectiveness?

GreeBo

You would need to put loft stilts/legs (or just do it yourself by laying timber at 90* to original ) and the fill in between and board over the whole thing.

You need to research how to insulate near the eaves etc or you will turn a cold problem into a damp/mould problem.

Mickeroo

Something like these is hat you need as Greebo says: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Loft-Flooring-175mm-Insulation-Spacer/dp/B00942ETKC

We had ours done recently (not a DIY job) and they added extra ventilation to the soffit the whole way around to prevent any damp problems brought about by less heat leaking into the attic.

Similar to these:

BarraOG

GreeBo wrote: »

You would need to put loft stilts/legs (or just do it yourself by laying timber at 90* to original ) and the fill in between and board over the whole thing.

You need to research how to insulate near the eaves etc or you will turn a cold problem into a damp/mould problem.

Great, thanks for that! What about all the wires - electrical and alarm. What level should these be brought up to? I can sit the doors on stilts and create a path around the attic in case we need access to anything. We use our garage for storage.

I found a wire connected into a terminal block sitting on the insulation but with no protection around it. So I bought a terminal box which I will but the connection into.

hots

Mickeroo wrote: »

Something like these is hat you need as Greebo says: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Loft-Flooring-175mm-Insulation-Spacer/dp/B00942ETKC

We had ours done recently (not a DIY job) and they added extra ventilation to the soffit the whole way around to prevent any damp problems brought about by less heat leaking into the attic.

Similar to these:

Any recommendation for a supplier? Looking at getting similar done ourselves.

GreeBo

Assuming your wiring is up to the regs then there is no real issue with it being under fibreglass (specifically fibreglass, other insulation and wiring dont play well together)

You just need to make sure that you are not stretching it and, as you have said, that any connections are properly boxed off (ideally the box wouldnt be buried in the insulation either)

I didnt follow at all what you said about doors and stilts!?
If you dont use the attic then dont bother with stilts or flooring, just lay the insulation at 90* (following the guidelines around your eaves and cold water tank(s)

You can use some stilts/timber to create a small floored area, especially around the access panel & plumbing.

BarraOG

GreeBo wrote: »

You can use some stilts/timber to create a small floored area, especially around the access panel & plumbing.

Yeah I have a bunch of old solid doors and was thinking of putting them on the stilts so as to create a small floored area.