A sub-floor is the flooring joists were secured immediately by a wood underlayment. It offers a a reliable area for flooring materials including vinyl tiles or planks. Laying a sub-floor in the attic is really related except that the attic has a number of special considerations to laying a sub-floor in just about any other type of space. Before laying a sub-floor, seal any air leaks and insulate between the joists, if feasible. The U.S. Department of Energy states that an insulated attic can considerably decrease heat loss and power charges. Consult your local building codes division to find out the suggested insulation r value for the region.
Prepare the Attic
Consult your local building codes division to acquire some necessary permissions or a building permit prior to starting the task. Some municipalities might not need a permit because of this job, but the others might, as living area, particularly in the event that you’ll be using the attic.
Seal across the furnace and chimney ducts with high temperature caulk. Seal around air ducts, pipe openings and around holes or any gaps in the attic flooring with long life caulk.
Insulate involving the attic joists, if relevant. Most houses include insulation because attic insulation is required by building codes. In case insulation is lacked by your attic, consult with your building codes division to find out the finest materials and appropriate R-value of insulation for the type of your region as well as home.
Install the Sub-Floor
Snap a chalkline on the middle of every attic joist. These lines delineate in which the edges of every plywood sheet will rest on the joists.
Lay the plywood sheet on the attic joists along the side of the attic wall. So the longest aspect of the sheet lies perpendicular to the joists position the plywood sheet as well as the ends of the plywood lie right on the chalk lines. In the event the plywood overhangs joist and the chalk-line, measure and slice the the plywood appropriately. Leave a-1/4inch gap involving the plywood edge as well as the attic wall.
Drill 21/2inch screws throughout the plywood and to the ground joists every 6 to 8″. Inset the heads of the screws somewhat below the the top of plywood sheet.
Lay the sheet that was next tightly next to the the sheet. Make sure that the flooring joists support the edges of the sheet in the chalk-line marks. Screw the sheet.
Continue laying extra sheets that hook up to the sheets that are installed, producing certain that the edges of the plywood relaxation on the centerlines of the joists and enabling a-1/4inch gap involving the sheets along with the attic walls.
Mix the ground-patching co mpound in accordance with manufacturer instructions. A a skinny layer of the compound on all screw and the sub flooring seams heads. Allow to dry and sand sleek.