What is a Cockloft?
My engineering inspector said that I have a “cockloft” that has no subfloor and is uninsulated. I looked it up and it’s supposed to be the space between the roof and the ceiling. Next time I get a chance I will look at it again since I’m not sure exactly how high this cockloft can…
My engineering inspector said that I have a “cockloft” that has no subfloor and is uninsulated. I looked it up and it’s supposed to be the space between the roof and the ceiling. Next time I get a chance I will look at it again since I’m not sure exactly how high this cockloft can be. It seems to be accessable, however, as the inspector said that there is a hatch opening for it in the ceiling of a hall closet.
Be very careful about insulating a cockloft. We had one that was uninsulated, and when we bought the house, it was so cold that the large boiler could not keep the place heated (heating bills $1200 plus per month, for a 1200 sq foot house). So we had insulation blown into ours, which seemed to improve the heat loss problem. However, then the cockloft was filled with condensation and mold, caused by the temperature differential between inside and outside (the vents were insufficient). Eventually, we had to rip our entire roof off and have the rafters cleaned (mucho expensive–not to mention having an open roof). We installed multiple forms of ventilation, at the top and sides of the cockloft, and took the opportunity to blow in closed cell foam insulation. $50,000 later, our cockloft is in great shape.
If you have a choice, you might want to avoid buying a property that has a cockloft. If it’s uninsulated, your home will be incredibly cold. If it’s insulated, you’ll face these difficult issues about condensation. If it’s deeper than 3 feet throughout (from front to back) some of these comments do not apply (though if it is called a cockloft that generally means it’s deep in front, shallow in back).
If you have questions email me mmfarland at the yahoo.com address.
They just put in a layer of 8-12″ or so. You can’t get in there and staple batts to the roof rafters. If you did, you’d also have to staple in a moisture barrier. It just can’t be done in that space.
if all your electric is installed to code and all the boxes covered, there’s no risk. These guys know how to deal with that, including any high hat recessed lighting.
But you can’t get up there and lay on your back and staple up batts. no one will do that for you.
Oh.
They fill the whole cockloft with insulation? That wouldn’t work in our case. We need access to the skylight, electrical, other things.
What about just stapling up batts? Does that work too?
Thanks!!!!
The hole in the roof is where they run the hose in and then it’s used for the vent hole.
You may or may not have interior acces to the cockloft. Usually it’s in the same closet as the ladder to the roof. i did not have a separate hole cut into the cockloft up there. It should really be sealed in case you do get critters.
The insulation gets blown in from a hole in the roof, which they later patch. One guy actually climbs inside the cockloft and blows the insulation around. Yes, he has to be careful to only step on ceiling rafters. It isn’t batts that get stapled. Whenever an attic (or in this case a cockloft) is insulated, there needs to be a vent in the roof unless you use spray foam right up against the roof.. Modern gable roofs usually use eave and ridge vents. There is some debate as to whether a vent is really necessary. Federal Conservancy knows what they are doing.
I mean, do you staple the insulation to the beams?
Also, how do you keep the guys from destroying your plaster while they’re stapling up all this insulation?
Hey, I didn’t know we have a cockloft, but we do.
I thought it was insulated but it isn’t.
Dave, do you staple insulation to the top of the roof?
Also, why do you think vents are a good idea? We don’t have them. I figure that’s what the leaky skylights are for, ha ha ha.
I put up 4 pieces of 1/2″ stock around the perimeter at the top of the shaft and the plexiglas rests on top. I also put strip insulation (the 1/2″ stuff you use for a door) on top of the strips. You have to hold the piece up there while you’re nailing the strips up because there’s no other way to get it above the nail strips once they are in place, so a nail gun works best. Wood strips are painted white, looks very clean.
My problem was I had two skylights in the ensuite master bath and no direct HVAC duct in that room so I was losing heat and it was a bit chilly in winter.
I also have a heat lamp in the ceiling of the bathroom which some people think looks like a camera!!!! If you install one, get the one with the fan, makes a big difference.
You put the plexiglass on the inside of the skylight? Clever. How did you attach it?