This is part 2 in my series of loft conversion videos.
Cutting joists for attic access.
If the room has no ceiling.
Bridging involves cutting new wood members and installing them perpendicularly between the existing joists.
Install the two main replacement support joists the ones that run parallel to existing joists before you cut the.
I would not put the attic stairs ladder assembly opening at right angles to the ceiling joists.
This is done to hold the bottom chord from pushing the wall out.
With your access hole created follow the below instructions to create your loft hatch.
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.
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 way you only need to cut one of them to make the room for the rough framing opening.
Werner s easy access attic ladder 5 cut ceiling joists step 1 mark.
Head off the truss to the others with double 2x10 as normally done for the floor load and sheeth the floor.
Position a stepladder directly under the desired area for the attic access hole.
Our ceiling joists are 2 x 6 s.
Locate the joists behind the drywall.
Step 2 cut joist support boards.
I needed to cut one of those 2 x 6 s out to make our attic access larger.
How to cut a hole in the ceiling for attic access 1.
Building code often requires stairway access to the attic if the space is to be used.
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.
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.
Cut 2 joist sized boards long enough to span two joists on each side of your chosen.
In this video i show how i cut my my joists make packer plates get the joists from the garden up int.
You potentially compromise too many of the rafter cross ties by doing that.
If the room has a ceiling and you have cut the required hole go to step 2.
