Cutting Joists For Attic Access

Step 2 cut joist support boards.

Cutting joists for attic access. If the room has a ceiling and you have cut the required hole go to step 2. Locate the joists behind the drywall. Locate an area centered between the two joists and cut a 6 to 8 inch diameter hole using a keyhole saw. How to cut a hole in the ceiling for attic access 1.

Using a pencil mark the edges of any joists on the ceiling this will then create your access hole. I would not put the attic stairs ladder assembly opening at right angles to the ceiling joists. Our ceiling joists are 2 x 6 s. To transfer the weight that the now cut ceiling joist would need to carry i needed to add a header to either end of the now cut 2 x 6.

Use a drill and suitable drill bit to create enough holes in one of the corners to allow you to insert a saw and cut along the lines that you have marked out. In this video i show how i cut my my joists make packer plates get the joists from the garden up int. With your access hole created follow the below instructions to create your loft hatch. Instead you should place the cutout opening inline with the ceiling joists rafter ties.

This is done to hold the bottom chord from pushing the wall out. I needed to cut one of those 2 x 6 s out to make our attic access larger. Lay a 4x8 3 4 sheet of plywood on each end of the truss on the bottom chord spanning to the two trusses on each side of the one to be cut. Install the two main replacement support joists the ones that run parallel to existing joists before you cut the.

You potentially compromise too many of the rafter cross ties by doing that. This way you only need to cut one of them to make the room for the rough framing opening. Building code often requires stairway access to the attic if the space is to be used. It may be necessary to add.

Position a stepladder directly under the desired area for the attic access hole. Figure 1 modified joists remove any insulation that is directly in your work area and remember to replace it after you have completed the new. Head off the truss to the others with double 2x10 as normally done for the floor load and sheeth the floor. Bridging involves cutting new wood members and installing them perpendicularly between the existing joists.

This is part 2 in my series of loft conversion videos.