Another Loft Build Question

[BIGPETE]

Most of the lofts I see that you can buy pre made are tongue & groove/shiplap boards covering a wooden frame (usually 3x2) and not usually boarded out internally.

 

My question is, why do they all come tongue & grooved? Is this to look good? Or to be cost effective? If building your own would it not be preferable to use full length ply sheets 6x4 and run em across left to right etc?

 

I know ventilation and light is key, so don't worry that part is factored in. But for the part of boaring it out with T&G VS. sheets of thick ply, for me ply would far outlive and be a safer bet.

 

Is there any reason not to do this? Or am I missing something? Less cut's to be made and much longer lasting seems a no brainer?

[paddymac]

Pete the boards used are intended so that the rain would run off them easily,no reason not to use plywood sheets as long as you treat it accordingly when you have the loft finished to protect against the weather

[Guest karen87]

I think I'm going to use plywood or something to this effect aswell. My Shed looks quite drafts so when modifying it to a loft I think it will need this. Ventilation and lots of light have been factored into this aswell. Am I thinking along the right lines or being a muppet?

[moscow master]

Pete the first winter you have the ply will delaminate as plywood nowadays is crap t&g all the way or sheet the loft first with osb boards then clad with t&g jobs a good un atb

[BIGPETE]

No Karen i dont think you are. As long as its bone dry and good air flow but never a draft should be ok. Lots of light but depending on your system look for ways to let light in but perhaps keep it as frosted glass/perspex to minimilize visibility. If you are using an existing shed which is drafty (like i did for stock birds) you might be better just boardin it out internally to stop any drafts (as long as no dampness can get in depending how old your shed you plan to modify is).

[Guest karen87]

Yeah the plywood would be going on the inside just as insulation really. I would keep checking to make sure it's nice and dry. The shed is brand new

[Tony C]

A couple of drawbacks with T&G are 1) as the wood matures it shrinks and can eventually open up small gaps allowing rain in. 2) Plenty of nooks & crannies for mite to find a home in.

My choice would be ply. If you want to tart up the front there's always the option of applying your material of choice over the top of it. Back & sides of the loft can be felted to help preserve.

[Guest nephilim]

Using ply is OK. I've done it in the past and would again. At moment the loft I'm building is made of OSB Sterling board, with t&g front and sides. If you decide to use ply, make sure it's exterior ply or marine ply, aas they will stand up to the winter months and any rainfall that we have. Interior ply is a lot cheaper and unless you wrap it in roofing felt or the new butyl version that's about. My good friend Robert Bennion has made his roller loft out of ply sheeting and it's fully dry and function-able. Marine ply is around twice the price of interior ply. Remember the thicker the loft walls the less frost can penetrate. if you use interior ply, you will have to clad over it with T&G. I clad with T&G then board out between each section with 18mm ply. just my thoughts.

[gulkie]

Make sure your Stirling board is well treated or it will take in

Water.

[tommy2]

Your right Pete,nothing wrong with ply mate....all those lofts made by eco lofts ect..useing cheap crap T&G are awful,they all open up, split,rot and are a disgrace,,

If you can get your hands on Galvanised,or box profile 2nd hand roofing sheets,clad front,sides back and top....far far superior than any of the crap lofts you see advertised in the pigeon comics and will last a lifetime at least..there you go..

From the Heart..

[showman]

I think that any ply, T&G, sterling board or even shuttering ply can be used. I believe a lot of problems are avoided if the proper 'common sense' preparations are observed. I've made lofts from 6mm interior ply, and they lasted for many years, all because of preparation.

[Fly_caster]

Hi,

 

 

Don't forget that you could use a cheap under-cladding material such as Sterling Board or interior ply, and then clad the outside in PVC Soffit. Does a great job, insulates and is completely weather proof, as well as looking good.

 

My Blakes loft has a T & G cladding which shrank, as another poster has testified. Small cracks appeared and water was driven in by the wind during winter storms. Spent a few hundred on Soffit, cladded the front and side of the weather-side of the loft and have had no problems since.

 

Before.........

 

 

 

During...........

 

 

 

After..............

 

 

 

 

 

Hope this helps,

 

Steve

 

 

 

PS This loft is south facing and sees all of the weather on the two visible sides.