Working in the loft

DorsetDude

DorsetDude

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Moving the insulation stuff around, trying to lay chipboard panels or looking for pipes etc. I invariably come back down coughing like a trooper and scratching at every exposed skin surface.

Is there a decent mask? the ones Ive tried either dont fit or make you so hot, sweat is dripping off you after about 2 minutes and you cant see what you're doing.

Also what gloves don't make your hands sweat and go when working up there?

Any one any tips for working in the loft?

Also does insulation laid over the top of loft boards reduce the insulations effectiveness? I want to put some under the insulation so when access is required to the water tank etc, its safe to walk straight along the stuff without having to peel it all back looking for joists to stand on.

Thanks.
 
Not found a mask that doesn't steam up but I'd rather get steamy than blinded and/or lung b uggered! I have a few pairs of old biking gloves which I try to remember to use when handling the insulation. My hands still sweat but the gloves soak it up.
 
Insulation over the boards will be fine.
Why not just place some boards over the insulation?
If it's only a narrow strip it shouldn't affect it much
 
When they topped up my loft insulation I removed everything from the loft, Luckily daughter was at uni at the time and took the old floor boards off. Once they had left I then got lots of 2 x 2 (rough sawn so cheaper) cut it into sections and laid it on top of the beams then added new floor boards.

As for respirators and gloves I used 3m disposable face masks and rubber gauntlets plus cotton coveralls Still sweated but at least didn't get fibres, in/on me
 
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The orange insulation is terrible to use. I just use standard work gloves - rigger gloves- and 3m disposable masks.
The recycled plastic bottle insulation is a lot easier to use, I find, as it doesn't affect me with itching.
As above, when I'm flooring lofts I put down 2 x 1 (50mm x 25mm) straps on the joists, so that I don't have to move cables and pipes.
I then floor with 8' x 2' (2400mm x 600mm) chip board. There is less waste with this size compared with the loft boards sold by B&Q which are 1220 x 325.
I use standard work trousers with built in knee pads- it gets sore being on your knees all day.
 
Couldn't use big boards on mine couldn't get them through the loft space:(
 
One further tip when boarding a loft - mark where all the wires and pipes run.
 
munch said:
Couldn't use big boards on mine couldn't get them through the loft space:(
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They're only 2' wide, the diagonal will be bigger!
For that matter, I suspect you are too :)

The length can be a problem, getting them up there if the loft height isn't sufficient.
 
The problem is we have hipped roof and the loft access is near one of the rises if that makes sense.
 
Dad had a problem at one of their old houses (actually a new build), The builder had fitted the hinged loft ladder so that long boards wouldn't make the transition without hitting the roof. Half an hour spent switching the ladder round allowed us to get halved 8x4 sheets up and down (as it were!)
 
What ever you do DO NOT GET A HOT BATH / SHOWER AFTER being in the loft, this opens pores in skin and insulation fibers get in........cool bath or shower to wash fibers away...
 
I know that this is a bit late, but if I have to do any work in the loft, I wear a white disposable one piece suit with hood, gloves and safety glasses and a twin cartridge face mask. Loft insulation is nasty stuff, and there is usually lots of dust up there as well.
 
andy700 said:
I know that this is a bit late, but if I have to do any work in the loft, I wear a white disposable one piece suit with hood, gloves and safety glasses and a twin cartridge face mask. Loft insulation is nasty stuff, and there is usually lots of dust up there as well.
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Not late at all. I am a man so it'll probably never get done what I'm planning anyway!

Where'd you get the disposable suit and the face mask incidentally?
 
You can get free ones from Trade Point, the trade side of B&Q. They give disposable asbestos suits away to trade :)
Open up a trade account and get discount too.
Keith's Loft Works...

(BTW, that's disposable suits for working in an asbestos environment, not asbestos suits!)
 
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DorsetDude said:
Not late at all. I am a man so it'll probably never get done what I'm planning anyway!

Where'd you get the disposable suit and the face mask incidentally?
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I think it was Wickes for the suit and a local autopaints firm for the mask. To be honest all face masks cause a lot of perspiration, but the secret is timing - especially with resprays on cars. I used to reckon on five minutes in hot temperatures before I noticed condensation and misting (on the safety goggles, because of the mask), then I used to go away and wash the mask out, leave it to dry and put another one on. You could use disposable masks - white furry paper with an elastic band - but I think they are worse than useless.
 
Yes I've tried the paper masks with elastic and as you say...
 
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