Cutting Ceiling Joists For Attic Stairs

You potentially compromise too many of the rafter cross ties by doing that.

Cutting ceiling joists for attic stairs.

When converting an attic or basement to finished living space you may decide to replace a ladder with a stairway or to enlarge an existing stairway. Werner s easy access attic ladder 5 cut ceiling joists step 1 mark. Instead you should place the cutout opening inline with the ceiling joists rafter ties. Cut 2 joist sized boards long enough to span two joists on each side of your chosen.

Step 2 cut joist support boards. If the room has a ceiling and you have cut the required hole go to step 2. Measure the distance between the full joists on either side of the cut joists. Cut a stringer to this length.

Cutting a hole in the floor for a staircase may happen during new construction or while renovating an older home. If the room has no ceiling. Locate an area centered between the two joists and cut a 6 to 8 inch diameter hole using a. If the ceiling joist does not provide one side of the frame cut a second stringer the same length as the first one.

Position a stepladder directly under the desired area for the attic access hole. In order to maintain the support integrity of the ceiling or floor joist or rafter system it is important that if joists are cut that the load that was bearing on those joists be transferred to a modified support system. Either process requires cutting away flooring. Cutting and or removing joists to provide an entry or access can be the most difficult part of the overall project.

This way you only need to cut one of them to make the room for the rough framing opening. How to cut a hole in the ceiling for attic access. These are trimmer joists. I would not put the attic stairs ladder assembly opening at right angles to the ceiling joists.

Determine the area where you want to place your stairs. Note that only one stringer is needed in figure 17 because the ceiling joist provides one side of the frame. Standard ceiling joists sit on 24 inch centers and the space between them is 22 1 2 inches.