Attic Insulation 2x4 Joists

Box out light fixtures.

Attic insulation 2x4 joists.

I live in the pittsburgh area. If you want to put down flooring in your attic and want more insulation underneath that floor then you need to increase your joist size. When you are insulating two by four 2x4 and two by six 2x6 framed exterior walls and want to use fiberglass insulation what thickness is best the question becomes all more critical because of the permanent nature of wall assemblies and wall insulation. Unless you re using mineral wool insulation or your fixtures are rated safe for contact with any type of insulation don t allow the material to touch or cover recessed cans or lights from the floor below it s a fire hazard.

If the attic joists are not adequate one way to strengthen the floor for live loads is to sister the old joists. Each joist is strong enough to support my weight 175lbs concentrated in a 1 segment of the joist and. 2x4 s actual size spaced 16 on center running the width of the building uninterrupted with the ends resting on top of the wall top plate. Ceiling joists are the horizontal boards that span the width of the house resting on the outer wall plates and possibly on.

If done right blown in cellulose insulation adds a lot of r value in all areas without doing too much work in regards to packing it in like batted insulation. Put insulation meant for 2x4 framed walls between the joists which will be the same height as the joists then lay a perpendicular layer of attic insulation maybe r 30 on top of them. In the case of 2x6 joists you can pair them up with additional 2x6 joists by nailing them together side by side. Sistering is the process of adding a new joist next to each existing joist.

Once the insulation is in the wall and sealed up with drywall it is not easy to change out. With the 2x4 joist what insulation should i use since i do want to put some flooring down for storage. How to increase the interior ceiling joist for r38 insulation. For any option installing those 2 x 2 furring strips really would be a waste unless the area is very unlevel.

I d like to double my ceiling joists to make my attic space easier to work in for electrical plumbing and for lightweight storage. Hot summers and cold winters.