Loft and First Floor ceilings

Problem Loft Hatches

Problem loft hatch

Note the blackening between the architrave and the ceiling, this indicates draughts are entering there, it should be caulked. The trap itself is dirty and there is a strong probability that it is not properly insulated and it is not sitting on its door stops again draughts are coming in there too, simple draught stripping will cure the problem but the top edge of the stops must be cleaned well first.

More on loft traps hatches and doors here 

 

 

 

 

Airing Cupboards

Airing cupboards often have gaps, cracks and holes around pipes, these should be sealed around and simplest the way to do this is with acrylic caulk.

                        

General advice on lofts

They should be well-ventilated and well-insulated (in general the ceiling rafters should not be visible as insulation should be 300mm deep) 

Like this:

 

Not like this

Highlighting some of the problems encountered at and above ceiling level in dry-lined homes

Ceiling roses should be inspected by unscrewing the rose and filling and sealing round the cable entry points is allowed with acrylic sealant. typically decorators caulk works fine.

Any other wires that pass through the ceiling should be sealed around too, possibly from above.

Then inspect any pipe boxings or soil pipe casing and ensure they are air sealed too.

Draughty soil pipe box (this one is quite neat but caused ugly draughts). The Solution was to spray foam all around it carefully.

Typically in dry-lined homes, there is a gap at the edge of a ceiling which leaves an open path for a lot of heat to escape from behind the plasterboard linings.

letting all the heat out before the insulation can do any good.

A simple fix

Foam is a simple, cheap and quick way to stop the worst of the heat losses happening, (insulate ceiling to at least 300mm the next day).