Make Sure Attic Is Sturdy Before Adding Laminate Floors

You can stiffen the floor in just one room or in as many rooms as you like.

Make sure attic is sturdy before adding laminate floors.

Sistering is the process of adding a new joist next to each existing joist. Go into the attic to inspect how wiring is routed through joists or on top of them for example. Then you ll need to build a grid like structure that can hold up the plywood flooring. Before you start creating a floor for your attic you must make sure that it can handle the additional load.

Not only will this minimize heat loss or gain in the attic but it will create a good sound deadening layer to muffle the sound of footsteps to the level below. Before installing laminate first prepare the subfloor. Attics are a top pick when homeowners decide to gain some extra storage or add a guest room but not all attic flooring structures are up to the task of supporting the weight of a new living space. Sturdy flooring material can also make an excellent shelf.

Laminate flooring in the kitchen is okay as long as you re diligent about cleaning up spills and splashes. Don t add flooring until you review wiring and plumbing needs for the future. Now that you ve installed your laminate flooring it s time to add the finishing touches. In the future you may want to construct a small apartment or master suite in the attic.

Remove all spacers from around the room. Boarding the attic floor will add to the structure s stability just as plywood does and give you a surface to store things on and walk on. Also make sure the floor is clean flat and smooth. Installations on basement floors and slabs should include a moisture barrier.

Strengthening attic joists for live loads by sistering. When you use the laminate to create a shelf it s also a great way to create a cohesive matching look in your home. Before you start make sure that your floor is designed to hold the weight of a floor and stored items. If the attic joists are not adequate one way to strengthen the floor for live loads is to sister the old joists.

Even the best laminate flooring is susceptible to moisture damage and shouldn t be installed laundry rooms and rooms with sump pumps or floor drains. The ideal solution is to make sure the joist cavities below the attic floor sheathing are fully filled with bat fiberglass or blown in cellulose or styrofoam insulation. The methods we ll cover make floors stiffer but not necessarily stronger. If your floors are bouncy and also noticeably sagging they probably are too weak.

Adding a floor to an attic can increase storage space or create a new room.