Before you start creating a floor for your attic you must make sure that it can handle the additional load.
Building an attic.
Then you ll need to build a grid like structure that can hold up the plywood flooring.
Other structural issues are also factors including whether there is adequate space to install a stairway to the attic.
Building code often requires stairway access to the attic if the space is to.
In many cases ceiling joists for dead loads are designed to carry 10 pounds per square foot.
Building code also requires that the prospective attic living space be accessible by a full size staircase with at least 6 foot 8 inch clearance above it.
When converting an attic to a living space it must meet the same building requirements as the other rooms in your home.
Attics only accessible by trapdoor style staircases or ladders aren t technically finishable.
To meet most building codes your attic should.
You also need to ensure that the joist spacing is adequate.
Adding a floor to an attic can increase storage space or create a new room.
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.
Make sure the attic has a full size staircase.
An attic sometimes referred to as a loft is a space found directly below the pitched roof of a house or other building.