Attic Storage Weight Limits
An uninhabitable attic not designed for storage can handle a 10 pounds per square foot live load.
Attic storage weight limits. Just like plywood if you re worried about your attic weight limits then don t use 2x6 planks. An uninhabitable attic designed for limited storage can handle 20 pounds per square foot live load. Garage attic storage space weight limits. I got a few questions in regards how much stuff i can put in it.
I m guessing you don t have the plans and don t know what live load the attic was designed for. The joists are what support the weight. Make sure items are spaced so that the weight is evenly distributed over the chords. Access to attic storage.
The span table for a 30 psf live load 10psf dead load floor indicates a required fb value of 1 315 and a minimum e value of 1 800 000. The past few days i have been organizing the terrible mess on my two car garage. In the example the joists have a spacing of 16 inches and a span of 11 feet 2 inches. Another garage attic storage flooring option is to lay down 2x6 planks and screw them to the tops of the joists.
Its a one floor family style house got plenty of space on the attic with an access ladder to it. If you want to use your attic on a regular basis or to store large items you may need to enlarge the access opening and install an access ladder or drop down stairs. This is probably easier than wrestling with plywood but when it s finished it ll weigh even more than plywood. Design live loads will vary based on a number of factors but at a minimum 10 psf live load for attics without storage 20 psf live load with limited storage and 30 psf for habitable attics served with fixed stairs international residential code 2009 older or local codes may be different.
If your attic joists won t bear the weight necessary to finish out a living space but the engineer cleared them to support floor decking for light storage you can install inch plywood or.