Attic Joist Reinforcement

Now it is time to use some wood and screw it into place on the original joist as well as the cross beam.

Attic joist reinforcement. Step 4 reinforce the floors you will have to use a very sturdy piece of wood or some steel plating to reinforce the floor joists. In massachusetts attic floors must support at least 30 lbs ft live load the same as bedroom floors if the attic is accessed by means of a fixed stairway 780 cmr 5502 3 1 use a span table to determine the necessary joist dimensions given their span length spacing wood species and grade. You can strengthen the roof to prevent damage by adding braces to the roof rafters inside your attic. This is a fairly basic project that can help protect your roof but consult a structural.

A raised platform of lumber in dimensions of 2 4 or 2 6 with insulation placed between joists and covered up with a 12 inch plywood helps build the right flooring. The solution is simple sister on an 18 gauge 1 5 8 x6 steel stud material to act as a joist running plate to plate. Screw the metal joist to the existing wood ceiling joist and to each plate and you have very effectively reduced the load deflection of any stored attic loads for little cost. Installing flooring material over the attic doesn t quite leave room for the recommended insulation space needed to provide efficient home energy.

Sistering installing new larger joists next to the existing ones is one way to bring your attic floor up to code. But 2x8s should work fine and will save labor and materials. Positioning the new joist adjacent to the existing preserves precious ceiling but it does come with some potential complications. Often existing joist bays are filled with electrical and heating ducts that will need to be relocated.

A steel plate can be used the same way. Toenail the blocks or end nail through the joists to tie everything together. How to reinforce an attic floor with sister joists clear the joist spaces pull out all insulation and any debris from all of the joist spaces so you can see the full. If the existing joist system is very close to being sufficient to support a new attic flooring.