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Attic Flooring

  • 01-04-2014 02:19AM
    #1
    root69
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 138 ✭✭


    Hi,
    I am thinking about getting some floor in the attic. This is 30m2, so to get someone to do it will be very expensive.
    Think I will give it a go myself.

    What to use for the floors? I was thinking about 10 or 12mm plywood. Is this any good or something else would be more suitable?


Comments

  • #2
    handandy
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 86 ✭✭handandy


    root69 wrote: »
    Hi,
    I am thinking about getting some floor in the attic. This is 30m2, so to get someone to do it will be very expensive.
    Think I will give it a go myself.

    What to use for the floors? I was thinking about 10 or 12mm plywood. Is this any good or something else would be more suitable?
    a few 8 x 4 sheets of 18mm osb board or 18mm ply from any builders merchants and cut them into 2 foot wide sheets so that you can get them up into the attic through your attic ladder hatch . you can also get knauf loft boards with 100mm insulation on the backs of them for attic flooring . i have my attic fitted with them and they are a good solution for flooring and insulation too .


  • #3
    dodzy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,288 ✭✭✭✭dodzy


    The area you need to cover will take 10 sheets approx but i'd throw in an extra 2 allowing for cutting. 18mm as Andy has suggested.


  • #4
    root69
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 138 ✭✭root69


    Thank you both.
    Would you know where I could get them at a good price? Or the price will be the same no matter where I go?

    Also, with these materials, can I rest that this strong enough to hold likes of a gym machine like a press machine. something with 150-200kg? Or should I be worried with that?
    I would expect to use that space for this kind of thing or even to get a chair to chill out... its a big area so I would like to make some out of it until I get the money to properly convert it.

    Thanks


  • #5
    Staplor
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,146 ✭✭✭Staplor


    I got attic flooring at a builders merchants, think it was in 8ft lengths, maybe 3 foot wide, they were possibly about €20 each delivered.

    the painful bits was getting it into the attic, doing that on my own was a pain. I ended up cutting them in half, had I got them up full size it would have been easier.

    I'd also get some form of electric saw, that being said, I managed to floor the best part of it and I'm terrible with a dodgey hand saw, a hammer and some nails.


  • #6
    handandy
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 86 ✭✭handandy


    Staplor wrote: »
    I got attic flooring at a builders merchants, think it was in 8ft lengths, maybe 3 foot wide, they were possibly about €20 each delivered.

    the painful bits was getting it into the attic, doing that on my own was a pain. I ended up cutting them in half, had I got them up full size it would have been easier.

    I'd also get some form of electric saw, that being said, I managed to floor the best part of it and I'm terrible with a dodgey hand saw, a hammer and some nails.

    why didnt you use a cordless screwgun and wood/chipboard screws ?
    hammering and nailing down a floor in an attic is not the way to go,as vibrations from hammering will possibly cause splits and cracks in the ceilings below and will possibly pop some of the drywall screws . also if you need to lift the attic flooring for the likes of plumbing work , co ax cabling or wiring of more sockets in bedrooms below then nailing a floor will mean heartache in lifting the attic floor boards again .
    fit the floors to the attic joists with a cordless screwgun and 40-50mm wood/chipboard screws , this makes life that much easier and simple . its also faster this way too .


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  • #7
    Staplor
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,146 ✭✭✭Staplor


    I did say I was terrible, I never think things through like that!


  • #8
    bman1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 116 ✭✭bman1


    You can get osb ply in an 8x2 sheet with tongue and groove on it down here in Kerry, I'd assume most good builder merchants in the country might do it. Very handy size and the tongue and groove means a really nice tight fit.


  • #9
    rcdk1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 558 ✭✭✭rcdk1


    root69 wrote: »
    […]Also, with these materials, can I rest that this strong enough to hold likes of a gym machine like a press machine. something with 150-200kg? Or should I be worried with that?
    […]
    I'd be more worried about the strength of the joists. Older houses would typically have 4x2" joists supporting the ceiling whereas 9x2" would typically be used to support floors.

    If it was my house, and this is purely my opinion, I'd be happy to use the 18mm ply suggested above (well screwed down) for normal use (e.g. a bedroom with typical bedroom furniture) but not gym equipment. Even so, you might get some cracking of the ceiling plaster below.


  • #10
    root69
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 138 ✭✭root69


    rcdk1 wrote: »
    I'd be more worried about the strength of the joists. Older houses would typically have 4x2" joists supporting the ceiling whereas 9x2" would typically be used to support floors.

    If it was my house, and this is purely my opinion, I'd be happy to use the 18mm ply suggested above (well screwed down) for normal use (e.g. a bedroom with typical bedroom furniture) but not gym equipment. Even so, you might get some cracking of the ceiling plaster below.

    This is a new development home. And the attic is large and appropriated for conversion.

    I would say if it would hold a bedroom with furniture than a small gym machine would be fine.. This is just me saying.. I have to logic or hard prove behind my opinion.

    Anything that I might be forgetting?


  • #11
    dodzy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,288 ✭✭✭✭dodzy


    root69 wrote: »
    And the attic is large and appropriated for conversion.

    Anything that I might be forgetting?
    Difficult to say for sure. My house in Dublin has a trussed roof. Too many people think that once the attic is floored, you have free reign to throw any amount of weight up there. Just remember that RSJs are used in attic conversions for a reason - simply to support / transfer the weight of furniture and constant foot traffic to the block-work at either side of the house, ensuring that you are not awoke from your deep sleep by a bench press and weights landing on your head. You may well have an attic setup that is "conversion ready" with just the immediate need for flooring. My trussed roof lower beams are like matchsticks unfortunately :(


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  • #12
    root69
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 138 ✭✭root69


    dodzy wrote: »
    Difficult to say for sure. My house in Dublin has a trussed roof. Too many people think that once the attic is floored, you have free reign to throw any amount of weight up there. Just remember that RSJs are used in attic conversions for a reason - simply to support / transfer the weight of furniture and constant foot traffic to the block-work at either side of the house, ensuring that you are not awoke from your deep sleep by a bench press and weights landing on your head. You may well have an attic setup that is "conversion ready" with just the immediate need for flooring. My trussed roof lower beams are like matchsticks unfortunately :(

    Thank you. This is really helpful.
    Is there a way to identify if the attic is ready for conversion and the lower beams are strong enough? Can I get to that conclusion with a visual inspection?
    I know there are no blueprints to the house.


  • #13
    dodzy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,288 ✭✭✭✭dodzy


    root69 wrote: »
    Thank you. This is really helpful.
    Is there a way to identify if the attic is ready for conversion and the lower beams are strong enough? Can I get to that conclusion with a visual inspection?
    I know there are no blueprints to the house.
    Post a few pics of the attic structure. Easier to give advice then.

    Really need to see if the roof is trussed or not. Some houses that I've worked in were close to "conversion ready" at build. Floored, veluxed, water tank recessed, no RSJs fitted, but some serious wood beams in place that would have carried the weight of an elephant. That said, these houses were expensive at the time, and generally speaking, the attic space in an average house is designed with support adequate for light storage only.


  • #14
    wowy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 709 ✭✭✭wowy


    This was a useful thread I recall reading a while back.

    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=54886772


  • #15
    root69
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 138 ✭✭root69


    dodzy wrote: »
    Post a few pics of the attic structure. Easier to give advice then.

    Really need to see if the roof is trussed or not. Some houses that I've worked in were close to "conversion ready" at build. Floored, veluxed, water tank recessed, no RSJs fitted, but some serious wood beams in place that would have carried the weight of an elephant. That said, these houses were expensive at the time, and generally speaking, the attic space in an average house is designed with support adequate for light storage only.

    Thank you. Here are some pictures. Hope this helps. Please note on this picture the attic has a floor. Not in my case. But exactly same attic.

    1j9paFx
    1j9p1lq


  • #16
    vinnie13
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 494 ✭✭vinnie13


    looking at your pics the house is built recent enough so 9x2 would have been used
    as said 18mm will be perfect
    shop around for prices they can differ up o 5e a sheet,well in my area anyway


  • #17
    vertico
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 133 ✭✭vertico


    It looks floored in the picture..pull back the insulation at the sides and measure the dept of the joist


  • #18
    dodzy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,288 ✭✭✭✭dodzy


    vertico wrote: »
    It looks floored in the picture..pull back the insulation at the sides and measure the dept of the joist

    That's not OPs house. Looks decently set up. Floor away similar to the pic. I'm sure you'll have no probs unless you're 20stone and benching 300kg:D


  • #19
    root69
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 138 ✭✭root69


    dodzy wrote: »
    That's not OPs house. Looks decently set up. Floor away similar to the pic. I'm sure you'll have no probs unless you're 20stone and benching 300kg:D

    Hi all,
    Thank you for your opinions.

    Good to know it looks strong enough for now :)


  • #20
    whizbang
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,033 ✭✭✭whizbang


    Just to note, All the timber in your attic is not just there to support your storage space...

    take a rough estimate of the number of roof tiles you have up there already, and lookup the weight of these.

    Hint: its measured in TONS.


  • #21
    root69
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 138 ✭✭root69


    whizbang wrote: »
    Just to note, All the timber in your attic is not just there to support your storage space...

    take a rough estimate of the number of roof tiles you have up there already, and lookup the weight of these.

    Hint: its measured in TONS.

    Thanks.
    Roof tiles? I assume these are being supported by the external block walls and also the support beams.
    I dont think i would be able to accuratly weight that. At least i dont know how.


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  • #22
    gutteruu
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,064 ✭✭✭gutteruu


    root69 wrote: »
    Thanks.
    Roof tiles? I assume these are being supported by the external block walls and also the support beams.
    I dont think i would be able to accuratly weight that. At least i dont know how.

    Unless its a massive load, don't worry about it.

    The strength of the 18mm board is only part of it. The distance between the centres supporting it is a big thing. I just floored a huge attic and had to run battons on top of joists as there was insulation and cabling. One side I can definitely feel the spring in the 18mm ply as the battons had to be about 600mm apart. If you were to put a heavy point load like the leg of a weights bench on this point, I wouldn't be too sure about it holding for long.


  • #23
    root69
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 138 ✭✭root69


    Thank you all for all your replies. really appreciate.
    I see I might need to have more complete set of information before I put that weight bench there.
    I will look at it in couple of weeks. Might return here :)
    The best would be a proper conversion.. but right now this is not an option as I have no budget for it :(

    Once again thank you.


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