The biggest difference — and the one most homeowners aren’t told about — is whether the boarding is raised above the insulation or installed directly onto the joists.
That choice affects:
At AMVA Lofts, we install raised loft boarding systems because they protect how your home is designed to perform.
Raised loft boarding lifts the storage platform above the insulation layer, rather than compressing it.
Basic loft boarding is often fixed directly onto joists. This compresses the insulation underneath.
Compressed insulation:
Once insulation is compressed, it cannot perform as designed — even if it looks fine.
Lofts rely on airflow to prevent moisture build-up.
Poor airflow can lead to:
Raised systems allow airflow paths to remain clear, especially at the eaves — an area commonly blocked by poorly specified boarding.
New-build properties typically have:
Boarding directly onto joists in these homes is particularly risky.
That’s why raised boarding is not optional in most new-build lofts — it’s essential.
That’s why it costs more than basic boarding — and why pricing varies significantly between quotes.
Ask these questions:
If the answers aren’t clear, the system probably isn’t either.
We only recommend solutions that:
If that means we’re not the cheapest option, we’re comfortable with that — because the alternative is doing it twice.
The right solution depends on your home, insulation depth, and layout.