Table of Contents
Can I floor my attic for storage?
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 I make my attic usable for storage?
Build shelves; you’ll fit more into the attic if you have layers of storage space rather than just a floor to place items on. Use the space between the rafters, on the ceiling and along the attic walls. Don’t block the ventilation, though; air needs to flow through the attic to keep it cool.
Can my attic support storage?
The Attic & Your Home’s Structure Integrity While most attic joists will be strong enough to allow you to move around for an inspection and may even provide storage for empty boxes or lightweight items, they will not typically be strong enough to support the weight of multiple people, heavier objects, or furniture.
Can I put plywood in my attic for storage?
An attic can be floored with 1/2″ CDX plywood, if it is being used only for storage. In that case, you will need to use 3/4″ thick plywood. As an alternative, 3/4” OSB can be used. Don’t use 7/16” OSB, as it is intended for external sheathing and isn’t strong enough to be used as a floor.
Is the attic too hot for storage?
You never want to store temperature-sensitive possessions like photo albums in your attic. The high heat and humidity will ruin the photos and similar items such as posters and paintings.
How much weight can you put in an attic?
The weight is supported by the joists A 10 pounds per square foot live load can be handled by an attic that isn’t designed for storage. 20 pounds per square foot live load can be handled by an attic with limited storage.
How much weight can attic joists support?
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. Span length is different for every room.
What should not be stored in an attic?
7 Things You Should Never Store in Your Basement or Attic Delicate fabrics. Furniture and décor made from natural materials. Important papers. Food (unless you store it carefully) Electronics. Candles. Anything flammable (near heat sources).
How thick should attic floor be?
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.
How much weight can a ceiling joist hold?
Simple – 9 lbs per square foot. If your chair does not weigh over 9 pounds—you can hang one on a joist for every foot of length. This is based on a attic floor which is designed by code to support 10 pounds per square foot and then subtracting 1 pound for ceiling weight. You should have no problem with this.
What type of flooring is best for attics?
Resilient flooring, such as laminate or vinyl, is one of the best choices you can make for attic floors. This type of flooring can soften the sounds when installed over an underlayment.
Is OSB OK for attic floor?
If your attic joists won’t bear the weight necessary to finish out a living space but the engineer cleared them to support floor decking for light storage, you can install ½-inch plywood or oriented strand board (OSB) in 4-foot-by-8-foot panels over existing 16-inch OC joists.
How thick should attic insulation be?
R-Value is a measure of insulation’s ability to resist heat flow. The higher the R-Value, the better the thermal performance of the insulation. The recommended level for most attics is to insulate to R-38 or about 10 to 14 inches, depending on insulation type.
Is it cheaper to finish an attic or basement?
But finishing out an attic will almost always cost more than a basement. So it can feel like a catch-22: Spend less in a basement renovation for a lower appraisal, or spend more in the attic for higher appraisal value.
Can you put cardboard boxes in attic?
Cardboard Boxes Those cardboard boxes stacked up in your attic could become a veritable buffet for mice and bugs if you’re not careful. “Pests are attracted to the cardboard and to the glue used in construction of the box,” says Santoro. “Boxes also break down and disintegrate, which will attract pests even more.”.
Can a hot attic cause a fire?
Heating Elements As heat rises, attics are already hot places, especially in the summer when the temperature outside skyrockets. Your heating, ventilation, and cooling (HVAC) may become overheated and catch fire because of the excessive heat.
What is the average attic temperature?
Ideally, your attic should not exceed 130 degrees Fahrenheit during the summer. Problems related to attics hotter than 130 degrees: It will make it harder to cool your home in the summer.
