Lofty Ambitions, from SaveEnergy in Maidenhead
Often the hard part of insulating a loft is everything stored up there. We bring it all down for you, and when the work’s done we put back what you want to keep.
Lofty Ambitions
Loft insulation and loft storage, without clearing the loft yourselfOr ring us on 01628 947077. The survey is free, and it’s up to you whether to go ahead.
We’re SaveEnergy, a community-owned, not-for-profit energy advice business, and Lofty Ambitions is our loft service. We work across Maidenhead, Windsor, Cookham, Marlow, Henley, Wokingham, High Wycombe, Bracknell, Reading and the villages around them.
A loft we’ve finished: the new insulation, the storage platform above it, and the owner’s things put back.
Why loft insulation gets put off
The loft is where things go when there’s nowhere else for them, and over the years it fills up. For a lot of people it holds the belongings of a lifetime. To insulate it, all of that has to come down first and be kept somewhere while the work is done. That’s a lot of trips up and down a ladder, and it’s easy to leave it for another year.
We do all the carrying, down and back up again, and you choose what to keep.
The same loft as the finished photo above, before we started.
What happens, step by step
The work is done by a team from Frost Construction, our partner for Lofty Ambitions, with our own project manager, Graham, in charge.
- 1
We look at your loft
We come and survey your loft properly and agree with you what’s needed. The survey is free. Afterwards we send you a quote that lists all the work and what it costs.
- 2
We bring everything down
Before anyone goes up, we put plastic over the carpets and move any china, furniture and belongings out of the way. Then we bring everything down and put it in a room you’ve chosen, such as a spare bedroom or the dining room. We supply the boxes and the packing tape.
- 3
You decide what to keep
While you go through it all, we get on with the work in the loft.
- 4
We insulate the loft and build the platform
We bring the insulation up to at least 270mm deep (about 10½ inches) and build a storage platform on legs above it, so the insulation isn’t squashed.
- 5
We put back what you’re keeping
The things you’re keeping go back up onto the new platform.
What’s included
The price of every job covers:
- bringing everything down, and putting back what you keep
- boxes and packing tape, if required
- the new loft insulation
- a raised storage platform above the insulation
Some lofts also need extras, such as these. They aren’t part of every job:
- fire hoods, which are covers fitted in the loft over any spotlights set into the ceiling below
- a larger loft hatch, and a new loft ladder or changes to yours to suit the new platform
- grab handles for getting in and out of the loft
- new LED lighting in the loft
- lagging for pipes and a jacket for the water tank
If your loft needs any of them, we agree it with you first and it’s written into your quote. Nothing gets added to the job or the bill unless you’ve said yes.
What it costs
The cost depends on what you need and the size of your loft.
As a guide
Around £3,000
for a typical three-bedroom house that needs 200mm of insulation added and a storage platform of 20 square metres.
Our prices include any VAT. We don’t add VAT on top.
Every home is different, so your own price comes from the survey, once we’ve seen your loft. Your quote lists every part of the work and breaks the cost down.
Why your things go on a raised platform
If you keep things in the loft, the Energy Saving Trust says not to squash the insulation, because it then doesn’t work as well. Their advice is to raise the floor above it.
When the insulation is deeper than the timbers of the loft floor, boards laid straight on top will press it down, and so will boxes. Our platform stands on legs, clear of the insulation, which means you don’t have to lose storage space for the Christmas decorations or the suitcases. You may have heard it called raised loft boarding.
- Storage platform
- Legs
- Insulation at full depth
- Loft floor timbers
What difference will Lofty Ambitions make?
There are three main reasons to get your loft insulated and boarded.
- Easier access. A safe platform to walk on and store things, and a safe ladder where your loft needs one, make it easy to get up there. It’s also a chance to tidy up your things, and the Christmas decorations get easy to find.
- A more comfortable home. It stays warmer in winter and cooler in summer, which matters more as our weather becomes less predictable.
- Less wasted energy. Without enough insulation, the heat you pay for disappears out of the roof. An uninsulated home loses around a quarter of its heat that way, the Energy Saving Trust says.
Saving money is usually not a high priority, because the savings are small. How much depends on how much insulation is up there now. Very few of the houses we see have more than 100mm (about 4 inches), and at the survey we’ll look at yours, as far as we can with your things still in the loft.
Government guidance recommends at least 270mm of loft insulation, which is about 10½ inches. If your loft already has around 120mm (about 5 inches), the Energy Saving Trust estimates that topping it up to 270mm only saves about £13 to £35 a year. If it has none, the saving is about £140 to £360 a year. Those are the Trust’s estimates for a gas-heated home at July 2026 prices, and the exact figure depends on the house.
Is there a grant?
The main grant available is the Warm Homes: Local Grant. It’s usually for households with an income of £36,000 a year or less. Above that, you may still qualify if you get certain benefits or live in certain postcode areas. The home also needs an energy performance certificate (EPC) rating of D to G, and to be privately owned or privately rented. The Warm Homes: Local Grant schemes are run by local councils. Many are already oversubscribed but are adding new applicants to a waiting list. You can find out more on your local council website.
If you think you might qualify, or you’re not sure, ring us on 01628 947077 before you agree to any work. Our energy advice is free to anyone, and we’ll point you the right way.
Who does the work
The team are from Frost Construction, a Cookham building firm and our partner for Lofty Ambitions. Gavin Frost started the firm in 2016, and it’s a member of the Federation of Master Builders. It employs and trains its own people.
Graham, our project manager, runs every job. He has 20 years’ experience as a project and site manager.
You deal with SaveEnergy throughout. The quote and the bill both come from us.
While we’re doing your loft, we can also advise you what else you could do to make your home warmer in winter and cooler in summer. This advice is free.
We don’t sell solar panels, home batteries or heat pumps, and we take no commission from installers, even the ones we recommend.
SaveEnergy is community-owned and not-for-profit. Our operating surplus supports vulnerable households.
What our first customer says
A director of SaveEnergy, whose loft was our first pilot job and who paid for the work.
“Since we’ve had the loft insulation topped up we really do feel warmer, it feels like there’s a duvet on the house. The process wasn’t disruptive and the team were lovely people. We talk to people all the time about the difference it’s made.”
Detached Edwardian home, Maidenhead
Questions and answers
When do I pay?
Nothing for the survey. If you go ahead, half when you book the work, as a deposit, and the rest when the job is finished.
Is the survey free?
Yes. The visit and the quote cost you nothing, and whether you go ahead is up to you.
How long does it take?
On average, about two and a half days on site, though it depends on what’s needed. You’ll be without the room you’ve chosen for that long. Once you’ve said yes, we can usually start within two to three weeks, and we’ll agree a date that suits you.
Who will be working in my home?
A team from Frost Construction, usually two people. Graham, our project manager, is in charge.
Do I need to clear the loft before you start?
No, that’s our job. We bring everything down at the start of the work, and we supply the boxes and packing tape.
Where do my things go while you work?
Into the room you’ve picked, a spare bedroom or the dining room for example. Once the platform is in, we put back what you’re keeping.
Do I need to be in while you work?
You need to be at home for the survey, and to let the team in on the day we start. You can usually leave the team working if you need to go out, but you need to confirm this arrangement with them beforehand.
Could anything be added to the bill later?
Only if you’ve agreed to it first. Your quote lists everything we can see at the survey. If we find anything else once the loft is empty, we tell you and ask before we do anything extra.
What if I haven’t finished sorting when the loft is ready?
We can come back another day to put the rest up. A return visit is charged at £55 an hour for one person, with a minimum of one hour. That price includes VAT.
Will everything I keep fit back in the loft?
Most lofts are suitable for a platform. How much goes back depends on how much you keep and how big the platform is. At the survey we’ll suggest a size to suit what you want to store, wherever possible, and your quote confirms it. The platform is for light household things, like suitcases and Christmas decorations. If you want to keep anything heavy up there, such as boxes of books, tell us at the survey.
Can I arrange this for my mother or father?
Yes, as long as they’re happy for you to. Ring us or fill in the form and tell us whose home it is.
Do you do loft boarding?
Yes, though not boards laid straight onto the insulation. We build a platform on legs above it, so you get the storage without squashing the insulation.
If your question isn’t here, ring us on 01628 947077.
Book a free loft survey
Tell us a little about the home and we’ll be in touch to arrange a time to look at the loft. We aim to reply within one to two working days.
Prefer to talk it through? Ring 01628 947077 or email enquiries@saveenergy.coop.
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