Cutting Joists For Attic Access

Our ceiling joists are 2 x 6 s.

Cutting joists for attic access.

Locate the joists behind the drywall. It may be necessary to add. Using a pencil mark the edges of any joists on the ceiling this will then create your access hole. I needed to cut one of those 2 x 6 s out to make our attic access larger.

With your access hole created follow the below instructions to create your loft hatch. Cut 2 joist sized boards long enough to span two joists on each side of your chosen. Position a stepladder directly under the desired area for the attic access hole. I would not put the attic stairs ladder assembly opening at right angles to the ceiling joists.

Building code often requires stairway access to the attic if the space is to be used. Werner s easy access attic ladder 5 cut ceiling joists step 1 mark. This is done to hold the bottom chord from pushing the wall out. If the room has a ceiling and you have cut the required hole go to step 2.

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. Instead you should place the cutout opening inline with the ceiling joists rafter ties. Bridging involves cutting new wood members and installing them perpendicularly between the existing joists. Step 2 cut joist support boards.

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. You potentially compromise too many of the rafter cross ties by doing that. Install the two main replacement support joists the ones that run parallel to existing joists before you cut the. 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.

This way you only need to cut one of them to make the room for the rough framing opening. In this video i show how i cut my my joists make packer plates get the joists from the garden up int. If the room has no ceiling. 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.

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