Loft Insulation

[meregirl]

We have recently had solar panels put on our roof, and to receive the grant money we had an EPC done. Before the money is allocated to us, we have to put in another 6 inches of loft insulation, topping the existing up to 10 inches. Our loft floor is completely floor boarded over, when we got the Gas Board out to look at putting insulation in, he said to just lay 6 inches over the boards, and that would be OK, but they couldn't do that. Then get an assessor out to get the EPC. Is this OK?

[buildersmate]

Firstly I wouldn't engage BG to lay loft insulation. I would employ a general builder, the BG overhead margin on that activity must be huge.
Secondly I'm not clear whether you are merely asking whether it is acceptable to put insulation over floorboards (it is), or whether you ate asking whether you have to get another EPC undertaken afterwards. The answer to that depends on the terms of your solar power contract. If it says you must have an EPC that shows a minimum std achieved, then you will have to do it. EPCs are valid for ten years and you don't have to reassess every time you improve the thermal std of your property.

[meregirl]

Thanks for that builders mate, I wanted to know if it was OK to put insulation on floor boards, unfortunately we do have to have another EPC. We actually thought we would buy the insulation and do it ourselves.
Hopefully not too difficult!

[buildersmate]

Yes it is perfectly OK to put insulation over floorboards. The main disadvantage is in not having the flat space to store stuff up there anymore.
The job is very easy to do, but extremely unpleasant because of the fibres. Buy a nose and mouth dust mask, wear old clothes, and have a way of removing clothes into a bin bag for future washing. Wear thin gloves and cover a such of your skin as possible, the fibres may itch but not hazardous or carcinogenic.
It is very cheap job to DIY, which is made expensive by tradesmen as it is unpleasant.
The only other thing to warn against is not to block the eaves ventilation grilles, if you have them, and don't insulate under the cold water tank, if you have one.