How To Build A Support Beam In Attic

Lay the other board for the beam on top of the plywood.

How to build a support beam in attic. Pieces of 2 by 4 inch lumber are placed between the trusses underneath the decking to keep trusses straight. Joist dimensions are only part of the equation. Place one of the boards for the beam flat on the saw horse. At the ends use metal hurricane straps to connect the beam to the jack studs.

Tie in the support beam to the jack and king studs and to the ceiling joists. Wall removal and hidden beam in attic remodeling contractor talk. Tie in the support beam. You can now remove the temporary support wall.

You also need to ensure that the joist spacing is adequate. Attic joists that are made from 2x8s may be acceptable for building your attic floor but because every room is variable there are no absolutes. Bracing for extra support. If your attic joists won t bear the weight necessary to finish out a living space but the engineer cleared them to support floor decking for light storage you can install inch plywood or.

Wide opening total will give you room to work and allow you to patch the opening with a sheet of drywall. Along the top toe nail the beam to each ceiling joists. Cut the 8 foot plywood strips 1 4 inch shorter than the two boards for the support beam. Place the plywood strip on the board for the beam.

If the attic is being finished for living space these pieces called scabs can be installed flush with the trusses to provide areas for sheetrock or paneling to be nailed to. Cut an opening in the ceiling and walls on either side of the beam location that gives you room to hammer in joist hangers.