Attic Joist Cutter

Check each joist for crowning slight bowing along the length of the board and mark the top edge to ensure that the joist is installed with the crown facing up.

Attic joist cutter.

Modifying an attic floor s joist system is a job for the pros. Note that the trimmers run the whole length of the joists in place. These boards will support the joists that will be cut and help keep the ceiling from sagging or completely collapsing while you are working in the overhead space. Yes you can typically cut through joists but you must make some additions known as trimmers and headers to the framing as well.

Bridging involves cutting new wood members and installing them perpendicularly between the existing joists. The rim joist fig. Covering the ceiling joists in the attic using plywood is a cheap way to make better use of the wasted space in your house. Nailing two 2x4s together will work to span about three joists unless the sag is under a weight bearing wall.

Set a hydraulic jack and post under the beam and jack up the joists about 1 8 in. Step 3 nail joist support boards. The ceiling joists will not hold much weight being only 2x4 s. Cut new joist lumber for each of the sister joists using a circular saw.

Always cover the tops of the ceiling joists to make sure the insulation is deep enough to reach your target r value and to prevent thermal bridging the heat loss that occurs through the wood framing. Then set new joists same height as existing ones alongside the old. In situations when sistering damaged floor joists with lumber of similar dimensions it can be easy to notch and slide the sister board into place. Nail 12d nails through the headers into the ends of the cut joist.

A day until they re level. Cut 2 joist sized boards long enough to span two joists on each side of your chosen location see figure 9. Work from the perimeter of the attic toward the door or hatch so that you don t trample all over the insulation you just put in. Clamp the ends of the cut joist to the headers.

B the framing member that runs around the perimeter of your house and that the floor joists butt into often gets riddled with large holes this space is the logical exit point for dryer and furnace vents big electrical service wires and fireplace fresh air intakes. Tack a beam under the sagging joists. This serves to. It is very easy to over cut the notches and remove the waste in two swift cuts but over cutting the notches in this manner weakens the structural integrity of the replacement lumber.

Use of joists in attic flooring.