Building a Garage Attic: Everything You Need to Know
- Evaluate Your Trusses. …
- Consider a Loft Ladder Kit. …
- Get Help With the Floorboards. …
- Start the Floors Off Right. …
- Make Sure the Attic is Ventilated. …
- Come Up with a Storage Solution.
How do you put an attic above a garage?
Here’s what you’ll need to do:
- Create an access point. Cut a square out of your garage ceiling to serve as your garage attic access point. …
- Install floorboards. To ensure that your garage attic is safe enough for storing items and walking around, you’ll need to install floorboards. …
- Ventilate.
How do I build an attic access?
For either option, you’ll need to cut an attic opening for attic access.
- Find the Joists. Position a stepladder directly under the desired area for the attic access hole. …
- Cut Out a Hole in the Drywall. …
- Look for Wiring or Plumbing. …
- Create the Access Hole. …
- Remove the Drywall. …
- Cut the 2x4s. …
- Attach the Drywall.
What should I put in my garage attic?
Quote from Youtube video: I just used a steel box. And I use these basic ceramic. Light holders that you can buy in a store for a couple of dollars.
How do you build a truss attic for storage?
Trusses are a crucial part of a home’s structure, so you don’t want to cut them when making storage space in your attic. To create storage space, install flooring and build simple plywood shelving between the trusses. It’s vital to insulate and ventilate the space to create a suitable storage area.
How much weight can my garage attic hold?
According to the IRC, the minimum live load capacity of a roof truss for non-sleeping areas should be around 40 pounds per square foot. Again, if it’s built for sleeping areas, it should be around 30 pounds per square foot.
Can you walk in garage attic?
Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: Now say when you're walking here. I can walk on this. And I can walk on this 2×4. Here I can walk on this one this one I don't want to walk on this this is the back side of the sheetrock.
Can you cut ceiling joists for attic access?
If your ceiling has joists, you can cut one or more to install an attic fan, a pull-down ladder access or a similar fixture. Cutting joists in the ceiling frame requires the installation of headers that bridge the adjacent joists.
Can you open an attic from the inside?
Attic doors can definitely open by themselves.
How do you install a ladder in the attic?
Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: So what I'll do now is take a screw pop it up through the drywall. That way when I go up in the attic I'll be able to locate the screw. And find the general location of the attic stair.
Is it OK to put plywood in the attic?
An attic can be floored with 1/2″ CDX plywood, if it is being used only for storage. However, the same can’t be said if you are planning on using the space as a living space. In that case, you will need to use 3/4″ thick plywood. As an alternative, 3/4” OSB can be used.
Is my attic strong enough for storage?
While attics can be turned into makeshift storage units, most of them are not suited for large, heavy objects such as furniture or temperature-sensitive items like electronics or documents. Always choose the right storage space for the right item in order to avoid any headaches later on.
Can attic with trusses be used for storage?
ANSWER: Your attic is not suitable for storage because the bottom member of a typical truss (referred to as a cord) is not designed to support a storage load, not because of truss movement. The cord is only designed for a dead load of 10 pounds per square foot.
Is it OK to store things in garage rafters?
Use care when working in the rafters or on a ladder. Reinforce the rafters in your garage for storage. If your garage has open rafters below the roof, you’ve got a wealth of storage space available above your head. By laying a board or set of boards onto the rafters, you can store many items up and out of the way.
Are attic trusses worth it?
With great stability and strength, the attic trusses are great to give better attic space. They also allow adding open attic space to get better room to put things in an organized manner. Plus, the attic trusses help your home available for storing boxes and other things at ease.
Is it OK to screw into roof trusses?
The cutting, notching or drilling of trussed rafters is not generally permitted unless the Trussed Rafter Designer has allowed this for in the design.
Are you allowed to drill through rafters?
You cannot cut into attic trusses. Like drilling into trusses, cutting or notching your trusses compromises the structural integrity of the trusses and violates building codes.
What is the difference between a joist and a truss?
The joist supports the load which the floor is built to bear. A truss is used to support the roof.
Can you drill rafters?
Rafters are the parrallel beams that form part of the roof, not drilling into them may be a requirement of building regulations. Celing joists (what you are standing on in an attic), may be drilled provided dimensions permit.
Can you run wire through roof rafters?
Yes, you can run cable through bored holes in the joists if that’s what you prefer.
Can you screw in rafters?
You may not be able to nail through the top plate into the rafter. But you can drive a screw through it. TimberLOK 6-inch long screws secure your rafter to the top plate by driving a screw at an angle from the joint between the wall stud and top plate, through the top plate and into the rafter.
