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Any good techniques for attic walking?

aphex

aphex

Moderator<br>All Things Apple
Moderator
Need to traverse to the back of the attic for the first time since we moved in last october. Looks like the only places I can place my feet are joints with wood at 45 degrees and 90 degrees like this \|

Is there any recommended technique for how to do this without killing myself?
 
effowe said:
Buy some plywood and create a makeshift floor.
Click to expand...

This and make sure you are wearing a torch (see image below). If you don't create a makeshift floor then you should have your hands free, so that you can use the rafters for support. Obviously make sure that you only stand on the joists. The idea is that you always have at least three points of contact at all times if you don't have a makeshift floor.

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Buy two 2x6's. Put one down on joists, crawl forward, put the second down and crawl onto it, move the first forward. Crawl forward, repeat.

Or buy several 2x6's until you can create a "path" to where you need to get with them, and you can rearrange them to suit your needed path.
 
Grab some plywood and make a floor. When you're done you can use that area for storing infrequently used stuff. When I was growing up we used the attic to store Christmas decorations and things like that.
 
It's not rocket appliances man, just put on some shoes and walk around on the joists. (make sure you use your hands too)
 
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Compressing the insulation ruins it's effectiveness. Placing plywood down so that it squashes it can take an r-40+ down to r-15 or less. Build up from the ceiling joists before putting large sections of plywood down.
If you're going to need to go back there again, get some 2x6's and notch them to fit between that gap you indicated between the stringers and screw them in so you have a narrow footpath. You'll need to be careful that you don't break that connection on the joist, it may just be a nailer plate holding it, and too much screwing around may mess with it, but once you place that pathway down, it will tie the whole thing together like a spine.
Add a length of rope tied and hanging between the rafters for a hand line and rock it in the attic.
 
AlienCraft said:
Compressing the insulation ruins it's effectiveness. Placing plywood down so that it squashes it can take an r-40+ down to r-15 or less. Build up from the ceiling joists before putting large sections of plywood down.
If you're going to need to go back there again, get some 2x6's and notch them to fit between that gap you indicated between the stringers and screw them in so you have a narrow footpath. You'll need to be careful that you don't break that connection on the joist, it may just be a nailer plate holding it, and too much screwing around may mess with it, but once you place that pathway down, it will tie the whole thing together like a spine.
Add a length of rope tied and hanging between the rafters for a hand line and rock it in the attic.
Click to expand...

You are assuming that the insulation is between the joists opposed to betwen the rafters. Also the insulation may not be deeper than the joists. I'm not familiar with US Building Regulations, so I don't know if there is a requirement to retrospectively meet current regulations for the thermal resistivity (or conductivity) of the elements for the building fabric.

I'm splitting hairs though 😉.

You are right that the joints between the sections of ply (or chipboard) should be supported using noggins perpendicular to the joist runs (i.e. you nail though the sides of the joists into the ends of the noggins). You can also provide intermediate support to the ply using noggins as well, if required for the ply length.

You are also right that he shouldn't cause seperation/damage in the joints or torsional stress/bending to the roof members, although it is unlikely that this would happen provided the OP correctly sizes the noggins in length/depth.
 
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Is plywood ok to leave over top of the insulation? I wanted to do that in my attic, but wasn't sure if the insulation needs to "breathe" or not. I would have to compress it in between the beams to be able to place plywood over it, not sure if that affects it or not.
 
Wyndru said:
Is plywood ok to leave over top of the insulation? I wanted to do that in my attic, but wasn't sure if the insulation needs to "breathe" or not. I would have to compress it in between the beams to be able to place plywood over it, not sure if that affects it or not.
Click to expand...

You could drill vent holes in the plywood to alleviate your concerns about "breathing", but compressing the insulation will reduce its effectiveness.
 
Wyndru said:
Is plywood ok to leave over top of the insulation? I wanted to do that in my attic, but wasn't sure if the insulation needs to "breathe" or not. I would have to compress it in between the beams to be able to place plywood over it, not sure if that affects it or not.
Click to expand...
Should be okay, and compression of insulation over a relative small area isn't going to affect much over the grand scheme of things, so as the worries regarding ventilations.
 
I have to do some joist walking tomorrow but its a main floor that had everything ripped up. Have to install some heat runs and some duct work. There better be some plywood on this job site..i'm kinda stressing out.
 
Attics are a pain, had to go in mine a few times. I got some blown insulation put in years back so pretty much can't go in anymore.

The way I would do it is I would move the first 2-3 layers of batt insulation so I can see the joists and just make myself a "trail". then place the insulation back when I'm done. Wear a mask and safety goggles, that fibreglass dust is no picnic.
 
its not attic work..i can handle that...its straight up walking on joists with nothing to hold onto.
 
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