Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs
Answers to the questions we’re asked most, organised by topic. Can’t find what you’re looking for? Get in touch and we’ll help directly.
General & Coverage
Getting Started
Yes. We cover every one of the 33 London boroughs, including all inner and outer London areas and the City of London, with local teams who know the loft types common to each area. See all areas we cover.
Yes. We carry out a full survey before any work begins, at no cost and with no obligation to proceed.
We usually respond within one working day, whether you call, email, or use a contact form. For emergency loft water damage, call us directly — see our Emergency Loft Solution page.
Yes. All loft insulation, boarding, and conversion work comes with a 12-month workmanship guarantee. If anything we've carried out develops a fault within 12 months, we return and repair it at no charge.
Loft Insulation
Insulation on the Loft Floor
Cost depends on your loft's current insulation depth, access, and whether it's rolls, boards, or professionally blown insulation. We confirm an exact price after a free survey.
270mm of mineral wool is the current standard depth. Many older homes have only 100mm or less, which significantly reduces effectiveness.
Rolls and boards are a reasonable DIY project for a competent homeowner. Blown (loose-fill) insulation requires specialist equipment and is professional-installation only.
Government schemes such as the Warm Homes Plan periodically offer support toward insulation costs, though eligibility varies. We can point you toward current schemes during your free survey.
Warm Roof Insulation
Insulation for Habitable Lofts
Loft Insulation is laid flat on the loft floor, for lofts that stay unused storage space. Warm Roof Insulation is fitted along the rafters, required whenever the loft becomes a habitable room, such as with a Velux conversion. They solve different problems and aren't interchangeable.
Yes, essentially always. Building regulations require insulation along the rafters whenever a loft becomes a habitable room.
Usually yes — warm roof insulation is normally fitted from inside the loft. Removing tiles is only needed if you're having a full re-roof at the same time.
Boarding & Storage
Turning Your Loft Into Storage
Not directly, with standard boarding — laying boards straight onto mineral wool compresses it and reduces how well it performs. A raised boarding system lifts the boards above the insulation, preserving full insulation depth.
It depends on your existing insulation depth. If you have modern 270mm insulation, raised boarding is usually needed to avoid compressing it. We confirm which applies to your loft at survey.
Raised boarding to protect your insulation, a pull-down loft ladder, and a basic lighting circuit — the three things that make a loft genuinely usable for storage, not just boarded over.
Loft Conversions
Velux, Home Office & Bedroom En-Suite
Often not — many Velux conversions fall under Permitted Development rather than requiring full planning permission. However, this has genuine limits: volume allowances, conservation area restrictions, and flats or maisonettes are generally excluded. We confirm your specific situation at survey.
This depends on your existing roof pitch and ridge height. We assess this honestly at survey — we won't promise headroom that isn't realistically achievable.
Not always — it depends heavily on your existing plumbing and drainage routes. We assess this honestly at survey rather than assuming it will work.
Yes — Warm Roof Insulation is fitted as standard on every conversion, specifically because the space needs to be comfortable year-round.
Staircases & Structural Work
Access and Structural Support
Yes — rise, going, headroom and handrail requirements are all governed by building regulations. We design to these from the start.
Yes, essentially always where load-bearing walls or floor spans are affected. We never cut this corner — every structural job is designed and signed off by a qualified, independent structural engineer.
We coordinate with an independent structural engineer for all calculations and sign-off — we don't provide these ourselves, since that's a qualified engineer's responsibility, not ours.
Pricing & Quotes
How Our Pricing Works
Usually because of differences in loft size, hatch access, existing insulation depth, and whether a raised or standard system is genuinely needed. We explain which of these apply to your loft during the free survey, then agree a fixed price before any work begins.
No. The survey is free and there's no call-out charge, ever — whether or not you decide to proceed.
Yes. The price agreed after your free survey is the price on your invoice. No hidden extras, no surprise add-ons.
Emergency Loft Solution
Storm & Flood Water Damage
Water actively coming through the loft ceiling, visibly soaked or sagging insulation, and any musty smell or visible mould after a leak all count. If you're not sure, call us — we'll tell you honestly whether it needs an emergency callout or can wait for a scheduled visit.
Possibly — if water is still coming in, the actual leak is a roofing issue, not an insulation one. We'll tell you honestly if that's the case, and can put you in touch with our sister company Brilliant Roofing Group.
No. We never charge a call-out fee, and there's no surcharge for out-of-hours emergency work.
Still Have Questions?
Talk to a Brilliant Loft Specialist
Free survey, fixed price, 12-month guarantee — across all 33 London boroughs.
