Putting Ceiling Joists In The Attic L

More times than not the floor structure of an existing attic is actually a ceiling joist.

Putting ceiling joists in the attic l.

You also need to ensure that the joist spacing is adequate. The location of the top of the knee is marked and after checking the level long boards are attached to the ceiling joists. If you see a complicated framework of 2x4s held together with perforated metal plates your roof is framed with trusses. Attic joists for live loads.

In the first step a knee wall is installed. You ll have to remove the entire roof structure to vault the ceilings. I would not put the attic stairs ladder assembly opening at right angles to the ceiling joists. Precise measurement is the most difficult as you need to consider all underlying obstructions carefully before proceeding with your plans.

Typically ceiling joists are 2 6 or 2 8. Joist dimensions are only part of the equation. Always cover the tops of the ceiling joists to make sure the insulation is deep enough to reach your target r value and to prevent thermal bridging the heat loss that occurs through the wood framing. Instead you should place the cutout opening inline with the ceiling joists rafter ties.

This way you only need to cut one of them to make the room for the rough framing opening. Covering the ceiling joists in the attic using plywood is a cheap way to make better use of the wasted space in your house. Purchase rolls or packages of insulation that will fit in the spaces between the ceiling joists. Now let s read about the steps for properly finishing the attic walls and ceiling.

Work from the perimeter of the attic toward the door or hatch so that you don t trample all over the insulation you just put in. Ceiling joists are typically 2 8 lumber floor joists are usually 2 10 or 2x 12 lumber. The subfloor installation is easy. You potentially compromise too many of the rafter cross ties by doing that.

Once we look to make the attic livable space the existing ceiling joists usually will not meet the structural requirement for a floor. How to vault a ceiling. Set up a stepladder tall enough to work comfortably from. First head to the attic.

Attic joists that are made from 2x8s may be acceptable for building your attic floor but because every room is variable there are no absolutes. That s a big size and strength difference between the two types of attic joists even if the joist spacing is the same. Step 1 framing of the top and sides of the knee wall. The standard width for joists is 24 inches.

If the attic were designed as living space those ceiling joists would become floor joists and be much bigger. Use of joists in attic flooring.