2x4 Attic Joists

Is an attic with only 2x4 joists holding up the ceiling strong enough to use for storage.

2x4 attic joists.

2x4 s actual size spaced 16 on center running the width of the building uninterrupted with the ends resting on top of the wall top plate. Please read disclaimer at end of description sorry this is my first video and i do a terrible job explaining but. Often existing joist bays are filled with electrical and heating ducts that will need to be relocated. The studs in question span 16.

Each joist is strong enough to support my weight 175lbs concentrated in a 1 segment of the joist and. You may walk along a plywood pathway and feel a little bounce in the floor and think hey maybe that s ok you may have plenty of head height up there in the middle and think it could work as a room maybe a home office with a desk and bookshelves where the. While this is not the optimal setup it is acceptable to have ceiling joists covered with plywood or osb to use for light attic storage of dead loads. Sistering installing new larger joists next to the existing ones is one way to bring your attic floor up to code.

Here s how to make undersized and o. Hot summers and cold winters. There is a wall under part of the attic which helps support the studs at approximately midspan. I d like to double my ceiling joists to make my attic space easier to work in for electrical plumbing and for lightweight storage.

Depending on the existing attic structure a contractor might be able to sister the current joists by attaching new joists of the same dimension beside them. Positioning the new joist adjacent to the existing preserves precious ceiling but it does come with some potential complications. With the 2x4 joist what insulation should i use since i do want to put some flooring down for storage. Some amount of thermal transfer will still occur through the joists themselves.

I live in the pittsburgh area. Put insulation meant for 2x4 framed walls between the joists which will be the same height as the joists then lay a perpendicular layer of attic insulation maybe r 30 on top of them. Chances are your attic is composed of 2x4 rafters and floor joists.