Is blocking required for floor joists?
Building code requires the use of blocking for floor joists that exceed 2 inches in width by 12 inches in depth. Blocking also needs to be provided at the supporting end of a joist. In addition to providing lateral support, blocking helps transfer weight to adjacent joists, so that the floor acts as a unified system.
Can I lay plywood over insulation?
While you can construct dams around recessed lights that aren’t IC-rated to keep insulation away from them, you can’t cover them with plywood. Doing so can cause them to overheat. Don’t install a moisture barrier on top of the insulation.
What is the purpose of installing blocking in between the joists?
Wood blocking between joists serve to minimize joist twisting and joist movement, consequently helping prevent deck board-gapping.
How do I finish my attic floor?
If this is your first remodel, consider hiring a professional to help you convert your attic.
- Clean Out Your Attic. …
- Wire the Attic for Electricity. …
- Build a Subfloor. …
- Insulate Your Attic. …
- Install Drywall and Ceiling. …
- Paint Attic Ceiling and Walls. …
- Choose and Install Attic Flooring.
How far should joist blocking be?
Always make sure your joist, blocking and any added framing are even and in plane with each other across the tops. Blocking: should be installed edge to edge to allow for fastening of the interior blocking. Blocking required every 4′ – 6′. Blocking must be equally spaced in rows, maximum of 4 to 6 feet apart.
Is blocking required for ceiling joists?
According to Section 6.3: “Rafters and ceiling joists having depth to thickness ratios exceeding 5:1 (e.g., 2×10) need blocking at their points of bearing to prevent rotation or displacing laterally from their intended position …
How can I cover my attic insulation?
The good solution for this is a house wrap material (often referred to by the popular commercial brand Tyvek) which allows vapor to pass through while blocking water itself on the outside of the home. You can also put up a thin board, plywood, or even drywall, if the goal is simply to prevent accidental contact.
Can an attic be over insulated?
Can you over insulate your attic? The answer is yes! Past a certain point, insulation in a vented attic will do more harm than good. In most of the United States, achieving an R-Value of 38 is more than sufficient.
How thick should plywood be for an attic floor?
Joist Spacing and Attic Use
You need 3/4-inch plywood. The thinner plywood is acceptable when the joist spacing is 16 inches. If you plan to finish the floor in the attic and turn the room into a living space, however, you should always use 3/4-inch plywood.
Can you finish an attic with rafters?
Once you convert attic space into living space you need to bring it up to the standards of modern building codes. That means, you’ll need 2×10 floor joists (or maybe 2×8 in rare circumstances), and, at least, 2×12 roof rafters.
Can attic joists support a floor?
That begs the question; can my attic support a floor? The answer, in most cases, is a definite yes. Even though it wasn’t put there, the joists supporting your ceiling are quite strong. Putting down flooring won’t stress them any more than the floors in your bedroom, kitchen, or bath.
How do you insulate attic floor boards?
Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: Each bag of this blown in fiberglass insulation covers about 30 square feet when we dense pack it into the floorboards. Like we're doing.
Can I insulate over loft boards?
Yes you can most certainly overlay and additional layer of insulation over the chipboard. I would leave the insulation short at the eaves though to ensure there is adequate ventilation in the loft space. This would most certainly improve you homes thermal performance during winter months.
Is it better to insulate attic ceiling or floor?
roof insulation is no-contest. The floor wins every time. Insulating the floor is standard practice for an unfinished attic space. The exception to this rule takes place when families opt to convert an unfinished attic space into something usable or livable.
Should attic insulation be faced or unfaced?
Attic Floor Insulation
Unfinished or uninsulated attics need a layer of protection to keep hot or cold air from migrating to the rest of your home. If you install batting between your attic floor joists, the material should be faced.
Does attic floor need vapor barrier?
In hot-dry climates a vapor retarder should also not be installed, but attics can be vented. All attics — vented or unvented — should have an air barrier (a properly detailed airtight drywall ceiling, for example) regardless of climate.
Does floor insulation need to be faced?
The general rule is to lay the faced side of your insulation against the surface closest to your living space. For example, when insulating the sub-floor above an unconditioned crawl space, in most climates, you will want the facing to lie against the subfloor.
Does faced insulation need to be covered?
To satisfy building codes, most faced insulation must be covered with half-inch-thick wallboard or other code-approved material to reduce the chances of its igniting during a fire. There is a type of faced insulation approved for exposed installations.
Can you leave faced insulation exposed?
Never leave faced insulation exposed. The facings on kraft-and foil-faced insulation will burn and must be installed in substantial contact with an approved ceiling wall or floor construction material.
Should I put plastic over faced insulation?
In most climates, it needs a vapor barrier. Some builders rely on batts with attached kraft-paper facing to do that job, but Tom recommends unfaced batts, covered in plastic with all the seams taped shut.
