Building Walls In An Attic

You can achieve better thermal performance in your attic by adding an additional layer of insulation.

Building walls in an attic.

The ceiling load may include items like drywall ducts recessed lights bathroom fans and attic insulation. You cannot just put up a wall anywhere. Enforcement varies but codes typically say that at least half of a finished attic must be at least 7 feet high and that this area must be a minimum of 7 feet wide and 70 square feet. Make sure you place it where you want it and nail or screw it to the subfloor.

The higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation. Keeping your new wall parallel will make everything easier for you trust me. Instructions the knee wall will be built on the floor of the attic and then tipped into place against the rafters. Draw a line across that angle.

If your attic doesn t have drywall you ll need to install it first before putting up walls. Staple insulation between the wall studs and ceiling joists image a. It will not bear any loads. Gable walls in attics often contain a window or a louvered vent near the peak of the roof.

One of your 2x4s. Use a miter. Be sure the wall is parallel with the attic floor joists or a gable end wall in the attic. Your attic wall must be studded to a frame which you will construct yourself.

Unless expressly built so an attic s joists are meant for carrying the load of the ceiling below and related elements collectively known as the dead load. Most houses attics are built without flooring and are not designed to carry the heavy load of finished space. An attic wall needs to be located near the joists and studs so it can be held in place properly. Your attic wall will not be a supporting wall.

Use your saw to cut along this line. Achieving greater r values in exterior walls in exterior walls add insulating sheathing to achieve a greater r value in your wall system. Support and follow me. Use a nail gun to attach sheets of osb to the walls over the insulation.

Step 1 measure the attic to build your walls to the correct length measure the angle of the rafter by laying a piece of 2x4 inch lumber against the side of the rafter in a vertical position. You can expect to pay 375 1 500 for drywall double that number if you want drywall on the ceiling. How to finish attic walls and ceilings step 1. Make sure to nail into the wall studs.

Follow the rule of 7s. Use a template to determine the angle on each of those six pieces of 2x4. Installing walls after the drywall with a carpenter will cost about 1 900. Every attic is different but a few established norms and practices will guide your renovation.

Cut six lengths of 2x4 each 2 1 2 feet long.