Reinforce Ceiling Joists Support Attic Expansion

The other is just used to support the trusses.

Reinforce ceiling joists support attic expansion.

After several centuries of service floor joists in older homes may sag or crack. How to make floor joists stronger. Steel is so much easier to work with and weighs practically nothing and is straight. The existing ceiling joists are 2x6s clear spanning about 11 feet 3 inches.

Long spans of joists in newer homes may wobble or bounce from foot traffic. I have done this many times in rooms and older garages with sagging ceiling joists. Typically ceiling joists are 2 6 or 2 8. Rather than sistering in deeper members which would involve moving wiring can i stack new 2x6s on top of the existing ones.

Screw the metal joist to the existing wood ceiling joist and to each plate and you have very effectively reduced the load deflection of any stored attic loads for little cost. Once again a 2 by 4 inch piece of lumber is placed between the trusses and parallel to the ceiling joists. Once we look to make the attic livable space the existing ceiling joists usually will not meet the. More times than not the floor structure of an existing attic is actually a ceiling joist.

The ceiling load may include items like drywall ducts recessed lights bathroom fans and attic insulation. They are designed to carry only the weight of the drywall or plaster depending on the age of your home. A great deal depends on the pitch of the roof. A higher pitched roof would be better for extra living space than a lower pitched roof.

Strengthening attic floor joists image balcony and attic together with can xs hold up to heavy lumber x celing joists can do. Unless expressly built so an attic s joists are meant for carrying the load of the ceiling below and related elements collectively known as the dead load. I need to convert an attic to livable space with minimal disruption to first floor habitation. Is there a way to add more support.

Learn what some fellow builders think about this construction scenario. Discussion on the integrity of 2x6 ceiling joists holding up heavy loads. This is where a high pitched roof is necessary. How to reinforce 2x6 ceiling joists to handle heavy loads fine homebuilding.