Desks Built Into Attic Joists

Once you convert attic space into living space you need to bring it up to the standards of modern building codes.

Desks built into attic joists.

Joist dimensions are only part of the equation. Please read disclaimer at end of description sorry this is my first video and i do a terrible job explaining but. You also need to ensure that the joist spacing is adequate. You can build your desk into this small nook and create a built in desk.

Joists carry the weight of the walls furniture and people on them. Positioning the new joist adjacent to the existing preserves precious ceiling but it does come with some potential complications. Beyond the size of joists the spacing between them should also be taken into consideration. Often existing joist bays are filled with electrical and heating ducts that will need to be relocated.

Standard joist spacing for the installation of attic flooring materials is 16 inches on center oc. Attic joists for live loads. When a load is applied to a joist it creates a tension in the wood along the top edge. That means you ll need 2x10 floor joists or maybe 2x8 in rare circumstances and at least 2x12 roof rafters.

The missing piece of information is those miserable little beasts called the building and energy codes. According to the nationwide building society adding a loft conversion to your home can increase the value of an average property by more than 54 000. 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. It needs more.

Currently they are supporting a ceiling and bracing the roof but you ll be adding furniture and people and possibly removing cross bracing. Nook built in desk ideas. Hire an engineer to inspect your house s foundation and framing to ensure they can carry the extra load. If you re building a stair case from scratch consider a switchback layout.

Take a look around your home and look for unused or wasted space. I think the building department will want detailed structural calculations. You could create a desk in the space under your staircase on the landing at the top of your stairs in a larger hallway or the nook meant for your laundry appliances. Here s how to make undersized and o.

Even a little drill in the wrong place can cause the structure to weaken resulting in annoying bounce and sag you experience every time while crossing the weakened floor. At a minimum you may need to strengthen the attic s floor joists which are often too shallow or spaced too far apart for the job.