What is a low loft (vliering)?
A low loft is a low, uninhabitable space directly beneath the roof, above the top floor. It is essentially a flat attic that is not tall enough to stand upright in — typically less than 1.80 m. The low loft is used for storage and houses pipes, joists and roof structure elements.
Low loft vs. attic
| Feature | Low loft | Attic |
|---|---|---|
| Height | < 1.80 m | Can be > 2.10 m |
| Usable as living space | No | Yes (with sufficient height) |
| Access | Pull-down loft ladder or hatch | Fixed or pull-down stair |
| Purpose | Storage, services | Living, work, storage |
Construction
A low loft typically consists of:
- Ceiling joists (joist structure) — the structural floor of the low loft
- Boarding or plywood — finish layer on the joists for walking on / storing things
- Roof rafters — the sloping timbers that carry the roof
- Roof boarding — the timber boards directly beneath the roof covering
Insulating a low loft
Insulating the low loft floor is one of the cheapest ways to save energy. Heat in the home rises — a poorly insulated low loft floor can easily lose 15–20% of the building’s heat.
How to do it:
- Clear the space — temporarily remove all stored items
- Lay insulation between the joists — mineral wool or PIR boards, thick enough (min. 200 mm mineral wool)
- Second layer across the joists — eliminates cold bridges through the joists themselves
- Replace the boarding — OSB boards as a walking surface on top of the insulation
> Note: the insulation sits on the floor of the low loft, not against the roof. The space above remains cold (unheated).
Access: loft hatch and ladder
Most low lofts are accessed via a pull-down loft ladder (retractable stair in the ceiling). The hatch is in the ceiling of the top floor.
- Standard hatch sizes: 60×60 cm or 60×80 cm
- Insulated hatch recommended (heat loss through the hatch is significant)
- Seal any gap around the hatch with self-adhesive rubber seal
Related terms
- Attic
- Ceiling joist
- Roof boarding
- Pull-down loft ladder
- PIR insulation
- Mineral wool
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