Following my post about boarding the loft I've spent a fair bit of time up there recently and I think I'm going to have to replace the insulation if I'm going to spend much time up there as its the microfibre stuff that irritates the skin and lungs etc.

Is it possible for a DIYer to replace the loft insulation? I've found non-irritant insulation and it isn't cheap!!! My main worry is that even if I do replace the insulation the fibres will still be in the air.

My only alternative idea is to put up curtains from the horizontal beams in the roof down to where I've boarded to effectively block off line of sight exposure to the insulation. Yes it will still be there but the fibres won't get past the curtains.

All help greatly received becuase if I can't sort the loft out into a habital space for my scalextrics I can't have it :( misses has only allowed the loft or nothing!)

nightmare job - you will itch for ages afterwards. I boarded my loft entirely with 4'*2' sheets of T&G chipboard. The insulation is completely covered now.

I did most of mine myself.
Although it meant wearing a full face mask, hood, boiler suit & marigolds.
Sweating like heck & taking breaks often because it gets hot up there.

However, It was better than getting someone in to do it as I did not have to empty the loft, just move all my stuff from one side to the other while I insulated then floored it.

It all depends, have you got the time to do it or the cash to pay someone to do it for you. If you do it, at least you know whats been done.

nightmare job - you will itch for ages afterwards. I boarded my loft entirely with 4'*2' sheets of T&G chipboard. The insulation is completely covered now.

Did you place the boards over existing fibre insulation?

I only need to board half the roof so that was my thinking for putting up some type of screen to lessen the fibres in the air.

Non irritant loft insulation seems well expensive anyway and even a DIY job I'm looking at a few hundred quid for the material. From what I've seen on the internet £300 is looking on the bright side but I haven't looked locally yet for materials.

I called British Gas who said I may qualify for a grant after they've done a survey as I said the stuff up there needs replacing. Guy is coming next Wednesday so I'll see if I can get it done with some grant discount.

Doubt they'll agree as its probably ok as it is and I can hardly say its for my scalextric track ;) worth a shot anyway.

/edit - those of you that have replaced it did the fibres go too? I don't fancy forking out for it to find I can't get rid of the fibres in the air.

Many Thanks.

I boarded over all the existing insulation. building control have been in to check other work and the guy asked me to lift one of the boards. He checked there was insulation below it and told me that technically you shouldn't squeeze the insulation down as it becomes less effective, but that the extra chipboard would more than make up for the difference in effectiveness, so not to worry about it. -

Eddscott - If you go to a local Insulation distributor i.e Encon, Sheffield Insulation or someone like that (not sure if they are in Wales) They will be able to supply you with totally encapsulated insulation. Which is glassfibre prepacked in polythene bags. They shouldn't be that much more expensive than the normal stuff. And hey presto no itchy fibres