How do I access my attic?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: I'd say the best way to do this is you just give it a little bump. And I'll do that now.

What is a walk in attic?





A walk up attic is an attic that can be accessed through a stairway, and is not the same as a dormer attic. There are many uses for a walk-up attic, and over time home-owners have been discovering and using all sorts of ways to utilize this unique space.

What is the purpose of an attic?

Attics help control temperatures in a house by providing a large mass of slowly moving air, and are often used for storage. The hot air rising from the lower floors of a building is often retained in attics, further compounding their reputation as inhospitable environments.

How do people walk in the attic without falling through?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: Put all your weight. And I'll even kind of test it at first to make sure I'm on a beam. But then you can do the same thing when you go into your next. Area like this it's like that.

How do I get to the outside of my attic?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: I only have a six foot ladder I wish I had like a seven foot ladder or an 8 foot ladder would make it way easier to get up here but if you're having problems. And if you'll have a six foot ladder.

Can my attic support my weight?





If you’re talking about the floor of an attic, then it may, or may not, support the weight of a person. We’ll tell you how you can figure it out. If you’re talking about walking on the roof and therefore relying on the roof truss and attic to support you, it highly likely that the roof will support you.

How do I know if my attic is safe to walk in?

The safest way to move around an attic without falling through is to walk on wood. If you have to walk on debris, clear it off and create a safe path across the room. Never step on a surface and put all your weight on it if you can’t confirm any framing. Also, watch out for trusses that connect to your roofing system.

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.

Is it safe to go into attic?

However, with proper precautions, it is safe to venture into your attic. There are also two other things to be on the lookout for when in your attic: water damage and rust or mold. Moisture can leak into your home from a damaged roof, so keep an eye out for leaking pipes.

What should you not put in the attic?



10 Items You Should Never Store In The Attic

  • Paints, cleaning products, or other toxins. …
  • Anything that is highly flammable. …
  • Delicate holiday decorations. …
  • Art is never good to store in the attic. …
  • Leather products. …
  • Cardboard boxes. …
  • Musical instruments. …
  • Anything wool (or made from natural fibers)

How much weight will a ceiling joist hold?

Ceilings in single-story homes are only designed to support a constant load of 5 lbs/SqFt., plus a live load of 10 lbs/SqFt. This varies by the span of the joist and the size, grade, and species of lumber used.

Can you cut a ceiling joist?

Cutting joists in the ceiling frame requires the installation of headers that bridge the adjacent joists. If your ceiling frame is made from trusses, however, you can’t cut it without an engineer first determining how best to transfer roof load.

How much weight can I store in my attic?



On average, an attic that has not been designed specifically for storage or already converted into a habitable room can hold 10lbs per square foot. The maximum weight load of an attic can be increased by taking certain measures, such as layering wood across the joists to spread the weight.

How do you walk in the attic?

How to Walk in an Attic With Blown Insulation

  1. Identify where you must go. Scout your attic with your eyes before you set foot on the ground. …
  2. Choose strong joists. Your attic has plenty of cross-pieces. …
  3. Grab planks. Walk on the joists, and you could stumble. …
  4. Inspect your work.


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.

What are attic trusses?



An attic truss is a support feature found in many home or building attics. This structure will basically hold up the roof of the home or building and help the roof resist lateral stresses from wind, snow loads, and debris.

What should an attic crawl space do?

While an attic crawl space should be properly sealed against exterior elements, it is best for homeowners to also make sure that the space is properly ventilated. One of the best ways to do this is to install one or more vents that allow air to flow between the crawl space and other areas of the house.

What does an attic crawl space look like?

What is an Attic Crawl Space? An attic crawl space, also called an attic access space or attic recess, is an area on the top level of a house that is not tall enough to be used as a living area. It is also typically unfinished. Attic crawl spaces come in all sorts of shapes and sizes.

Can you finish a crawl space attic?

Completing an attic crawl space may appear daunting to home improvement novices, but it requires little more than basic carpentry skills. This project adds energy efficiency, storage space and possibly an additional room to your home. Finishing an attic crawl space requires patience and planning.