What to do with these eaves?

[leucothea]

I have some eaves as shown in the photos.

• Early c18 timbers.
• Slate roof on felt, relaid 1980s.
• Vertical timbers in front of the purlins, nailed to the corresponding rafters.
• Lath and plaster in front. Moderate to poor condition.
• Some messy arrangement of c18 oak floorboard ends underneath the mineral wool.
• Cold and draughty space.

I want to improve the attic insulation and get back some space for storage.

I'm mainly torn between trying to insulate the vertical wall and having a 'cold' storage space behind, accessed through cupboards. Or whether to open up the space to the room and have wood fibre insulation underneath the rafters, as I will be doing in the main space.

I was wondering whether anyone has done something similar and has any advice/ideas to share?

Thanks in advance!

 

[aockenden]

That vertical lath and plaster wall is original? If it was me I’d want to keep that original feature of the house. You should still be able to figure out some insulation for behind that vertical wall to keep the loft room warmer.

 

[leucothea]

Yeah, I feel a bit reluctant to pull it out... It's pretty old but I guess not original (the house is 1741).

 

[Kearn]

Yeah, I feel a bit reluctant to pull it out... It's pretty old but I guess not original (the house is 1741).

They look riven, obviously original to the house, but no reason they couldn’t have been there since the start…

I wouldn’t rip them out. You don’t mention your roof make up and ventilation.

Assuming a complete warm roof space, there’s nothing to say you can’t continue your rafter level insulation behind the eaves. Just a bit of a faff to get in and work…

 

[leucothea]

Thank you—interesting.

The roof is different either side.

One side is slate, felt and mineral wool and is 'highly ventilated'—you can feel the breeze. This side has no access bar a small hole for taking photos.

The other side is clay tiles and I'm currently in the process of relaying it with the addition of a TLX gold membrane. I have access for a few days longer!

The thought is to replace the messy modern sloping ceilings with warmshell woodfiber + lime.

Photo attached shows this space the left, then a betwixt space I will open up from below and an unrelated section of the house to the right.