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Attic floor
Posted on 10/27/20 at 8:01 pm
Posted on 10/27/20 at 8:01 pm
Would it be safe to put 1/2” plywood on top of the rafters in an attic over a carport or should I get someone to take a look at it first to make sure it wouldn’t cause issues? Already have some stuff stored there but would like a flat surface area.
5
Posted on 10/27/20 at 8:43 pm to bobdylan
Ours is completely floored with wafer board. We walk up there and store stuff there.
Posted on 10/27/20 at 8:43 pm to bobdylan
You can put whatever you want to on 1/2” plywood. The problem would be getting the sheets into the attic. If going through the staircase you will have to cut them to get them through. Also the weight of the plywood
Posted on 10/27/20 at 8:54 pm to xcoach
That’s the goal. I would like to make sure the additional weight in the attic wouldn’t cause any harm (not sure if it’s designed for it, if it matters).
Posted on 10/27/20 at 9:46 pm to bobdylan
How long is the span of the garage, what size ceiling joist?
Posted on 10/27/20 at 10:17 pm to wickowick
Not sure, I would need to measure.
Posted on 10/27/20 at 10:54 pm to bobdylan
1/2” is a little thin, go 5/8”. With 1/2” you can feel the sag and any cut out areas become weak.
You can deck it out all you want and shouldn’t be an issue. As mentioned, getting it up there can be a problem depending on access.
You can deck it out all you want and shouldn’t be an issue. As mentioned, getting it up there can be a problem depending on access.
Posted on 10/28/20 at 3:47 am to bobdylan
quote:
I would like to make sure the additional weight in the attic wouldn’t cause any harm
It's not the weight of the plywood you should be concerned about, it's the weight of the crap you will be storing up there that can become an issue.
ETA: Let's just say, for arguments sake, a 4 x 8 x 1/2 inch sheet of plywood weighs 50 lbs. That means that amount of weight is distributed over 32 square feet and that is nothing really.
Like others have mentioned, load heavy things near walls where the rafters are tied in and don't stack stuff over the center of the flooring span that could cause the ceiling to sag.
This post was edited on 10/28/20 at 8:51 am
Posted on 10/28/20 at 8:28 am to bobdylan
So you have two issue, length of the span/size of rafters and then point loading.
1) weight of the plywood will not be an issue and go 3/4" so it doesn't sag.
2) assuming your attic is 2x6 and only a 20' or so span, shouldn't be an issue structurally, but you are going to not want to do the following
-keep heavier items away from the center. The largest moment is going to be in the center. Lighter items only there.
- do not point load. What i mean is don't stack a bunch of heavy items in one place. The plywood will distribute the load a good bit, but you still will want to place heavier items across multiple rafters.
-even with the plywood, if you plan to put shelves up there, you will need to run stringers under the feet, all the way across to not point load.
Overall weight should not be an issue so long as you keep it out the center.
1) weight of the plywood will not be an issue and go 3/4" so it doesn't sag.
2) assuming your attic is 2x6 and only a 20' or so span, shouldn't be an issue structurally, but you are going to not want to do the following
-keep heavier items away from the center. The largest moment is going to be in the center. Lighter items only there.
- do not point load. What i mean is don't stack a bunch of heavy items in one place. The plywood will distribute the load a good bit, but you still will want to place heavier items across multiple rafters.
-even with the plywood, if you plan to put shelves up there, you will need to run stringers under the feet, all the way across to not point load.
Overall weight should not be an issue so long as you keep it out the center.
Posted on 10/28/20 at 8:42 am to bobdylan
I decked mine with 1/2" OSB. No issues. I store stuff up there. The only thing I know is it compressed the insulation a little so I might have lowered the R value in the attic. To get mine upstairs I cut mine in 4 sections rather than lift a 4x8 sheet up there. Thru the ladder/door in the garage, it would be impossible. I had to sister up a 2x4 onto my rafters to give me something to screw them down on since by cutting them I didn't have the right overlap...but that was it.
Posted on 10/28/20 at 8:42 am to lsu777
Thanks all.
We have stuff stored in this area already (bed frames, pictures, Christmas stuff).
A flat surface would help organize and access it. I think we’d be able to spread the loads out more this way as well.
I was thinking 1/2” since it would be lighter.
Rafters are spaced 16” if that matters.
Also this area has no insulation under it.
We have stuff stored in this area already (bed frames, pictures, Christmas stuff).
A flat surface would help organize and access it. I think we’d be able to spread the loads out more this way as well.
I was thinking 1/2” since it would be lighter.
Rafters are spaced 16” if that matters.
Also this area has no insulation under it.
This post was edited on 10/28/20 at 8:44 am
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