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    Shueman's Avatar
    Shueman Posts: 1, Reputation: 1
    New Member
     
    #1

    Feb 29, 2008, 05:47 AM
    reinforcing attic floor w/ sister joices, 2X8's or 2X10's?
    I am finishing my attic in a 100 year old house. They used 2 X 6's for the attic floor joices running 16 feet (the opposite way of the roof "joices"). Of course this is not strong enough for a floor. There is a lot of bounciness to it causing cracking ceiling plaster below. My question is can I use 2 X 8's for sister joices (I would also attach 2 X 2 strips along the tops of the existing 2 X6s to make them flush) or do I really need 2X10's for a span of 16 feet? I would like to raise the floor as little as possible due to headroom in certain areas of the attic. Thanks.
    ballengerb1's Avatar
    ballengerb1 Posts: 27,378, Reputation: 2280
    Home Repair & Remodeling Expert
     
    #2

    Feb 29, 2008, 02:06 PM
    If you are making a living space in the attic you should be installing 2x12. Standards have changed and those attic joists are not floor joists, they are ceiling rafters that you will make into a joist when you build your new room.
    the1unv's Avatar
    the1unv Posts: 285, Reputation: 31
    Full Member
     
    #3

    Mar 1, 2008, 11:28 PM
    check with your local suppliers, they will have a rating chart to help you. I don't install many 2x8's , 2x12's , etc... any more. You can get much more support and further spans out of a TGI and it usually is cheaper or comparable.
    Mike

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