Can I add flooring to my attic?
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.
Can you put boards over insulation in 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 install a subfloor in my attic?
Install the Subfloor
- Snap a chalk line on the center of each attic joist.
- Lay the first plywood sheet on the attic joists along the longest side of the attic wall.
- Drill 2 1/2-inch screws through the plywood and into the floor joists every 6 to 8 inches.
- Lay the next sheet tightly beside the first sheet.
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 it OK to put plywood in the attic?
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 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 attic joists support?
10 pounds per square foot
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.
Can you lay loft boards directly onto joists?
You can still board directly on to the joists if you want, but it is worth noting that this would not pass a building control inspection, because you wouldn’t have the full 270mm depth of insulation required by regulations. Whatever you do, make sure you put as much insulation beneath the boards as possible.
How thick should plywood be 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.
How thick should attic flooring be?
Can attic floor support 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.
What thickness plywood should I use for an attic floor?