Adding Joists To Attic

Strengthening attic joists for live loads by sistering.

Adding joists to attic.

Sistering is the process of adding a new joist next to each existing joist. To properly add an attic storage deck start by measuring the largest area available that is not hindered by any ductwork. If you find that you d like to store more weight consider adding an osb for attic floor. Adding a 2 x 4 along the bottom chord of the 2 x 6 ceiling floor joist maybe helpful in stiffening the joist as well.

Beefing up attic joists for living space. This is made up of ceiling joists typically 2x6 or larger boards. Now that you ve air sealed your attic and basement check your attic insulation levels and add more if necessary. Add weatherstripping around the perimeter and a sweep to the door of a walk up attic.

Size each piece to fit snugly between the floor joists in your attic. Gluing and screwing a 3 4 attic subfloor and providing solid bridging should also be considered. 3 place the batts into the space between the joists making sure not to compress the material together. Attic hatch or door.

As long as they are not damaged the joists should be strong enough to allow you to move around in the attic for an inspection and to provide storage for typical boxed items. The maximum structural improvement you can get by adding new 2x6s on top of the old ones is the same as the maximum you would get if you sistered them side by side exactly double. Use a zippered insulated tent to keep the enclosure draft free attic tent at 7 attic cover insulator 120. The overall strength of the flooring joists depends not only on the size of the span but also on the distance between the support.

For 2x6s joists you can get away with some relatively light stuff. The floor structure of an attic is also the framing for the ceiling beneath it. As a frame of reference a 2x12 has. Beefing up attic joists for living space interiors.

Affix rigid foam insulation to the attic side of the hatch or door. If the attic joists are not adequate one way to strengthen the floor for live loads is to sister the old joists. To eliminate any potential problems with wiring or insulation use two by four or two by six lengths to create a subfloor system for the new decking. Pull down stair or ladder.

Depending on the existing attic structure a contractor might be able to sister the current joists by attaching new joists of the same dimension beside them.