Loft boarding

You can get a joiner to do it or get a specialist loft boarding firm to give you a quote. Make sure you check your insulation is up to scratch at the same time, including the loft hatch.

www.homebase.co.uk/chipboard-loft-panel-board-1220-x-320-x-18mm-3-pack/12814292.html
This type of board is ideal for attic flooring. We did ours ourselves - not that difficult. The sheets are small enough to fit through hatch and slot together at the edges. Once you have a small section done you can shift the boxes on to it and crawl around doing more.
But if you can "get a man in" it should be possible to do well within your budget.
I presume there's already insulation in attic.

Thank you - yes there's insulation up there and a couple of boards with boxes etc on I have to balance very carefully on the beams. I think the "get a man in" is the answer. At least if I get a quote now I know im in the right sort of price range. Thanks again.

You can work out how many boards you need - available very widely- so you'll know approx material cost. I just gave Homebase link but all hardware places stock. Just make sure they are loft boards as there are bigger sheets of chipboard which are much more awkward.

Don’t go up there and ‘balance on the beams’. I did that 14 years ago and am still paying the price. I lost my footing , …right leg went through the ceiling , while left leg in the attic. Called out to the decorators in the house at the time (thank Heaven) - they managed to get me back up to the attic and from there got down the attic ladder. I still get the occasional pain on my right hip.

Ekkk crazyH ill take your advice no more beam gymnastics then.

You should easily cover what you want doing with that amount of money but get several quotes and if possible use recommended (by friends or neighbours) tradesmen..

We've just had the middle of our loft boarded (not the eaves). We bought the boarding ourselves from Wickes (it's tongue and groove chipboard, like Farmor15's) and got a couple of our usual painter and decorators to do it. The cost was a few hundred for labour, not thousands, and they moved quite a bit of heavy stuff for us as they went along. If you order the materials yourself you will be well within your budget - or even if you don't buy the materials yourself! But make sure you know the rough cost of materials anyway so that you're not overcharged.

you need boards and legs for them so that there is air space below the boards for the insulation and ventilation. My 2 neighbours did theirs but only down the centre

Oo thank you boards on legs yes I can see why. Your right AskAlice I will pay a visit to wickes and have a look at prices. That was my big worry I know in the past I've been overcharged for jobs when I've told folk what jobs I've had done and they've enquired as to what I paid they've usually said oo they saw you coming!

We had ours boarded when we got the roof done. It didn't cost thousands, Good idea though to mark where electrical wires etc run underneath.

We have a local trade magazine published monthly. This month there is a company offering a loft deal 10m2 raised boarding, aluminium ladder and LED light for £899. including VAT. They have a web site but do not think we are allowed to publish names. It might give you some idea of cost.