If the attic has the potential to become a regular living space talk with a contractor about adding a fixed stairway.
Add storage floor to attic.
If the attic joists are not adequate one way to strengthen the floor for live loads is to sister the old joists.
If you want to use your attic on a regular basis or to store large items you may need to enlarge the access opening and install an access ladder or drop down stairs.
While flooring over an attic will provide a considerable amount of storage space you can really consider that just the beginning of getting the most out of your attic.
Before you start creating a floor for your attic you must make sure that it can handle the additional load.
Attic dek is a specially designed attic floor system that consists of 16 or 24 squares attached to the top of ceiling joists.
Attics are a top pick when homeowners decide to gain some extra storage or add a guest room but not all attic flooring structures are up to the task of supporting the weight of a new living space.
Attic or storage trusses on the other hand are designed to support extra weight.
It s possible to create a solid floor without investing a lot of money.
Then you ll need to build a grid like structure that can hold up the plywood flooring.
And preferably can avoid any existing roof support.
If your garage attic has a floor plywood or osb and enough space for you to stand up chances are you have trusses suitable for an attic lift.
To eliminate any potential problems with wiring or insulation use two by four or two by six lengths to create a subfloor system for the new decking.
Strengthening attic joists for live loads by sistering.
If you re not certain whether your attic can bear the load it s best to consult a structural engineer.
To properly add an attic storage deck start by measuring the largest area available that is not hindered by any ductwork.
Every nook and cranny in your attic can be used for storage if you can find a way to get to it.
Adding a floor to an attic can increase storage space or create a new room.
The difficulty comes from the precise measurement and cutting required and the labor of getting the sheets of underlayment in place.
Attic dek flooring provides additional storage space that supports up to 250 pounds making it easier than ever to get those cluttered spaces organized.
Additional storage space in the attic.
Sistering is the process of adding a new joist next to each existing joist.
Installing the subfloor is the easy part.
Covering part or all of the ceiling joists in the attic is a cheap way to make use of wasted space.