Attic Joist Cutter

Cut 2 joist sized boards long enough to span two joists on each side of your chosen location see figure 9.

Attic joist cutter.

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. Nailing two 2x4s together will work to span about three joists unless the sag is under a weight bearing wall. Covering the ceiling joists in the attic using plywood is a cheap way to make better use of the wasted space in your house. Cut new joist lumber for each of the sister joists using a circular saw.

Set a hydraulic jack and post under the beam and jack up the joists about 1 8 in. A day until they re level. The rim joist fig. Yes you can typically cut through joists but you must make some additions known as trimmers and headers to the framing as well.

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. Use of joists in attic flooring. Bridging involves cutting new wood members and installing them perpendicularly between the existing joists. 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.

Precise measurement is the most difficult as you need to consider all underlying obstructions carefully before proceeding with your plans. Clamp the ends of the cut joist to the headers. Tack a beam under the sagging joists. After you ve cut and boxed the ceiling joists proceed to make a platform or.

Step 3 nail joist support boards. Nail 12d nails through the headers into the ends of the cut joist. 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. The ceiling joists will not hold much weight being only 2x4 s.

Note that the trimmers run the whole length of the joists in place. The subfloor installation is easy. 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. Modifying an attic floor s joist system is a job for the pros.

Then set new joists same height as existing ones alongside the old.