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.
Subsequently, one may also ask, is it OK to put plywood in the attic?
An attic can be floored with 1/2″ CDX plywood, if it is being used for storage. Although thicker sub-floors are normally used for the living spaces in a home, those are usually OSB . However, if the attic is being turned into a living space, then 3/4″ thick plywood should be used.
Similarly, what is the best flooring for an attic? The Best Flooring for an Attic
- Plywood or Chipboard. Plywood or chipboard is the least expensive option for storage flooring.
- Loft Panel Flooring. This type of flooring is made from particle board and is pre-cut into 2-foot wide strips for ease of use.
- Plastic Panels.
- Hardwood.
- Carpet.
Then, how do I put plywood in my attic?
Screw the plywood into the subfloor. The plywood should be laying on top of the subfloor with no overhang. Once the boards are in place, place more screws placed 16 inches (40.64 cm) apart to hold the plywood to the subfloor frame. Once you’re done laying down all of the plywood, your attic floor is finished.
Can my attic support a floor?
Floor Framing As long as they are not damaged, the joists should be strong enough to allow you to move around in the attic for an inspection and to provide storage for typical boxed items. But they may not be adequate to support the weight of multiple people, furniture, and heavy stored items.
18 Related Question Answers Found
Does finishing an attic increase value?
Finishing your attic can add space and utility and increase the value of your home, as long as it’s done properly. When done without proper planning or adherence to local building codes, it can actually reduce the value of your home or stall a sale.
Can I cover my attic insulation with plywood?
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.
How thick should Plywood be for flooring?
The thickness of your plywood subfloor depends on the joist spans. The National Wood Flooring Association recommends a minimum plywood panel thickness of 7/8-inch for joist spans of 19.2 to 24 inches, and a minimum plywood panel thickness of 5/8-inch for joist spans of 16 inches or less.
Can you lay loft boards directly onto joists?
But joists are usually no more than 100mm deep, so this would be impossible to achieve and still put a floor on top. Only board directly on to the joists if you know there is no risk of condensation forming in your loft).
How much is a piece of plywood?
Cabinet Grade Plywood Thickness Type Price 1/4″ Oak Plywood $25.97 1/2″ Oak Plywood $42.97 1/2″ Birch (3 ply) $41.97 3/4″ Birch (5 ply) $44.97
Can I walk in my attic?
If your attic doesn’t have a floor, you can gingerly walk on the edges of the wood ceiling rafters (the ones that support the ceiling of the rooms underneath your feet), or you can lay a couple of pieces of sturdy plywood down to use as a sort of plank to get you from one truss to the next.
How thick should Plywood be for an attic floor?
3/4-inch
How thick should Plywood be to walk on?
3/4-inch
Is it OK to put flooring over blown in insulation?
If blown-in insulation is used, control the height or thickness of the layers so boards can by laid over top without having to compact the filler.
Are trusses cheaper than rafters?
Advantages of Trusses Because they’re pre-made to your building specs offsite, often via automation like computer-driven saws, they are much faster and cheaper to install than rafters.
Can you put new insulation over old?
According to ENERGY STAR®, you can put new insulation over old insulation, “unless it is wet. The vapor retarder on top of or between layers of insulation can trap moisture. Any existing batt or roll insulation in the attic should have the facing against the attic drywall floor or no facing at all.
How do I install a subfloor in my attic?
Lay the first plywood sheet on the attic joists along the longest side of the attic wall. Position the plywood sheet so that the longest side of the sheet lies perpendicular to the joists and the ends of the plywood lie directly on the chalk lines.
What is OSB plywood?
Oriented strand board (OSB) and plywood are wood structural panels made by compressing and gluing pieces of wood together. While OSB and plywood appear similar and are generally interchangeable, the different ways that each material is manufactured contribute to each having its own unique strengths and weaknesses.
How do I strengthen my garage ceiling for storage?
Reinforcing Garage Rafters for Storage Place a ladder or stepladder against the rafters to allow yourself to climb up to them. Measure the length of a ceiling joist from the midpoint of the garage to the wall of the garage. Cut a 2-by-4-inch board to match the distance you measured. Reinforce the other half of the joist with the same method.
How much weight can a 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.
Is attic floor load bearing?
These include the exterior walls below the floor as well as some of the interior walls that run perpendicular to the joists, called load-bearing walls. If you determine that your attic floor structure can’t hold what you’d like to store, it’s possible to beef up the floor framing by adding more or larger joists.
What type of flooring is best for attics?
The Best Flooring for an Attic Plywood or Chipboard. Plywood or chipboard is the least expensive option for storage flooring. Loft Panel Flooring. This type of flooring is made from particle board and is pre-cut into 2-foot wide strips for ease of use. Plastic Panels. Hardwood. Carpet.
How do I strengthen my floor joists with plywood?
How to Reinforce Joists with Plywood Measure the distance from the bottom of the floor to the bottom of the joist. Measure the length of the beam. Cut four strips of one-inch plywood to the width of the first measurement. Drill ¼-inch pilot holes at six-inch intervals down both long sides of each plywood board.