Cutting Joists For Attic Access

I would not put the attic stairs ladder assembly opening at right angles to the ceiling joists.

Cutting joists for attic access.

This is part 2 in my series of loft conversion videos. Cut 2 joist sized boards long enough to span two joists on each side of your chosen. Building code often requires stairway access to the attic if the space is to be used. 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.

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. Locate the joists behind the drywall. With your access hole created follow the below instructions to create your loft hatch. Bridging involves cutting new wood members and installing them perpendicularly between the existing joists.

Instead you should place the cutout opening inline with the ceiling joists rafter ties. Our ceiling joists are 2 x 6 s. You potentially compromise too many of the rafter cross ties by doing that. 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.

Locate an area centered between the two joists and cut a 6 to 8 inch diameter hole using a keyhole saw. In this video i show how i cut my my joists make packer plates get the joists from the garden up int. This is done to hold the bottom chord from pushing the wall out. Step 2 cut joist support boards.

Using a pencil mark the edges of any joists on the ceiling this will then create your access hole. This way you only need to cut one of them to make the room for the rough framing opening. Head off the truss to the others with double 2x10 as normally done for the floor load and sheeth the floor. How to cut a hole in the ceiling for attic access 1.

It may be necessary to add. If the room has no ceiling. I needed to cut one of those 2 x 6 s out to make our attic access larger. If the room has a ceiling and you have cut the required hole go to step 2.

Position a stepladder directly under the desired area for the attic access hole.