Hi all

I’m looking to board my loft out for storage use but I’m having a few problems deciding on a couple of things. I would really appreciate it if someone could give me a little advice as the existing joists holding the ceiling up are only 3 x 1s. The loft has a center beam running from both neighboring walls (think it’s a King pin) with the existing joists running from this to the front and back of the property. The size of the loft is 4.35m x 8.20m (with the king pin running through the centre of it).

My current plan is to use joist hangers from the king pin and use 4x2 timber (4.10m in length) running in between the old original joists. I was going to run the joists on top of the kingpin but, the floor to floor height would be too high for standard loft ladders 10.5ft and it will cut head height down significantly

My questions are:

1 – Does that sound ok?
2 – I was told 3x2 would be good enough for storage, would that be acceptable or too light?
3 – I can’t find a joist hanger to fit a 4x2, would I just use mini hangers?

I appreciate any advice any one can give

Cheers

Jacka

See what the pro's have to say, but I wouldn't entertain anything less than 5 x 2 at that length.

What size is the center beam.

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To be honest I haven't measured it but its about 6x4

What walls have you got supporting any of it, what is the maximum span.

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Its hard to explain really so I've attached a pic. the thin lines are the stud walls beath it

If you split the area half (either side of the kingpin) 4.1 x 4.4 one area has two stud walls beneath it and the other has has one

[IMG]http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/2809/loftfloorplan.th.png[/IMG]

[url]http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/2809/loftfloorplan.th.png[/url]


[img]http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/2809/loftfloorplan.png[/img][/img]

not sure why that hasn't displayed

So the maximum spam will be around 3.5m.

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[quote="thescruff"]So the maximum spam will be around 3.5m.[/quote]

Yeah I think so, on the existing joists anyway

If I put joist hangers in from the centre beam it will be 4.1m as it will be supported by the front/back wall and the centre. If that makes sense??

See what the pros say, but I would still go for 5 x 2 minimum.

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Cheers, will do

Has anyone else got any other opinons?

Do you think I could run a 3x2 joist over the existing joists to give me more strength?

can you just tell me, does the large timber run down the centre of the long length or the short length?

If it's lengthways, then the span of the new timbers will be <2.2m, correct?

If that's the case, 2x4's will be more than adequate imo.

No it goes the other way Python.

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I don't understand this thread

"If I put joist hangers in from the centre beam it will be 4.1m as it will be supported by the front/back wall and the centre. If that makes sense??"

please explain the bolded part jack

thanks

You have an 8.2m x 4.35 loft area, with a 6 x 4 ish beam splitting the 8.2 in half.

The OP want to use joist hangers on the center beam and run the timber to the outside wall 4.2 isg in length.

Obviously he would need to fix a joist every 400mm centers, then board the top.

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