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

This is the edge ceiling joist to the main bedroom, there is a gap behind the lining boards which seemed to steam in cold weather! See next pic for a happier story.
This time we are looking over the top of the edge ceiling joist next to a gable wall. The wall lining was open and a lot of warm air was emanating from the gap that has now been sealed, there was no insulation quilt in this 100mm gap, there is now.
We are looking in towards the eaves and the foam seals the top gap to the wall lining boards, need to diligent and caring to do this.
A somewhat unusual skylon wallplate, wind can blow round all four side of it and down behind the wall linings
Here we can Look down on a ceiling that needs sealing. The red that can be seen through that crack is the back of the coving, not usually visible after either plastering or dry lining. Wind and cold air should not be able to access the back of any coving and we can see clear down the back of the wall lining board. Living in this house was like living in a plasterboard tent.
This picture shows the top of a wall plate after draught sealing but before the fibreglass quilt was reinstated
Holes round pipes into loft

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).