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.
Where should you not step in an attic?
Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: You know as you go from room to room and may change. But always clear out the spot where you're gonna step completely before you actually firmly. Put all your weight.
Can I turn my attic into a room?
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.
What is a walk up attic?
Walk up attics have to be dealt with differently than a normal attic with a hatch. They are different because the interior attic door, the back of the stairs, and the three walls surrounding the stairs are typically outside and all need to be dealt with in some manner.
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.
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.
Does finishing an attic add value?
Finishing an attic is expensive, and if it’s done purely for resale value, it might not yield the high return you’re expecting. This will all depend on your market though, Berg explains. Out in the suburbs where space is aplenty, a finished attic won’t mean much to buyers.
Do people finish attics?
Whether you’re in need of an extra bedroom, office or playroom, a DIY attic remodel is a great way to add space to your home without paying for a whole home addition. Use this guide to learn how to transform your space from exposed rafters to a finished room.
How do you determine if an attic can be finished?
Every attic is different, but a few established norms and practices will guide your renovation. Follow the “rule of 7s”: Enforcement varies, but codes typically say that at least half of a finished attic must be at least 7 feet high, and that this area must be a minimum of 7 feet wide and 70 square feet.
How much weight can I store above my garage?
The horizontal bottom chords of most garage trusses are designed to carry the weight of drywall and insulation. So if your ceiling is unfinished, you have some excess carrying capacity up there: 5 lbs. per sq. ft. is a safe estimate.
How much weight can attic joists hold?
Attic Joists for Live Loads
In many cases, ceiling joists for dead loads are designed to carry 10 pounds per square foot (psf), as opposed to the 40 or greater psf that live-load joists must carry.
Are attics safe to walk in?
Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: You could step on that and if you do that you're you could fall all the way through or you could just crack the sheetrock.
Is it OK to put plywood over insulation in attic?
Once the insulation is down, you can turn your attic into valuable storage space by covering the floor with plywood. It will also make the attic a safer place in which to walk.
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.
How do I reinforce my attic ceiling?
Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: We've installed a post. And we push our attic rafters. Back up now we've taken the pressure off. But pushing them all the way back up is almost putting too much pressure on the floor down below.
How much weight can a garage ceiling joist hold?
Fine Homebuilding notes that 2-inch by 6-inch garage joists will support a weight of up to 50 pounds per square foot. If you overload your garage’s ceiling joists, the ceiling may appear to sag from the strain. While your 2-inch by 6-inch joists can collapse from too much weight, such a scenario is uncommon.
Can you board straight onto loft joists?
Can I Board directly onto joists? The simple answer is no. The most common joist heights in use in modern properties are between 75mm and 100mm.
What type of plywood should I use for 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 I use 1/2 inch plywood for attic storage?
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.
How thick should plywood be to walk on?
Sizing the Plywood
No matter what the spacing is on your ceiling joists, 3/4-inch plywood should be used if you plan on walking on it. If you plan on placing the plywood around the perimeter of the opening or door and using it only to store light boxes or materials, 1/2-inch-thick plywood should suffice.
