Attics Joists Creak And Pop

If the attic joists are not adequate one way to strengthen the floor for live loads is to sister the old joists.

Attics joists creak and pop. In the case of 2x6 joists you can pair them up with additional 2x6 joists by nailing them together side by side. Further the carpenter may need to add nails or reset them shim shore add joists or rafters rebrace etc any or all of these methods might indeed pull it off and get rid of the unwanted noise. The attic is one of the most unused and under designed spaces of a home. Sistering is the process of adding a new joist next to each existing joist.

Often minimal live load requirements are four times that of dead loads. In older home attics unsettling bangs are more likely to be the sounds of trusses joists rafters and sheathing expanding or contracting as the roof heats up or cools down. All attics joists can carry a minimal dead load weight i e 10 pounds per square foot. Metal roofs are major offenders but shingled roofs also can be quite noisy.

Popping is a common way to describe a variety of noises that a house makes and the causes are varied. Most people store clothes antiques junk photo albums and many of their long forgotten things in this rather dingy area often known as the dead load. Read to learn more. How to build attic flooring on joists.