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I have an attic with 2×6 joists. I’ll be adding blown in insulation to a height of about 15 inches. Any future attic travels (roof inspections, adding phone/cable/electric, etc) will be pretty tricky. Don’t want to add a new attic hatch to the living room!
Any ideas on a SAFE, inexpensive “catwalk” down the center of the attic where the main load bearing below? Is there a building code on this issue?
Phil
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...that's Patchogue, RI right?
buy some 5/8 or 3/4 ply, rip it into a 2' catwalk and (2) 12" "LEGS" build a 1x3 or 2x3 frame and screw it together ACROSS teh joists
5" joists + 12" "legs" = 17"... blow the box and screw the catwalk down, now you got a 24" catwalk the length of the attic... put soe gussets in to give it racking strenght and keep it from folding up..
use the 12" risers whaerever u want to expand your storage space.. this is for "light " storage and acess ONLY....
*Hey MikeThere's a Patchogue in Rhode Island too? I'm in East Patchogue on the south shore of Long Island NY.Thanks for your catwalk idea.Phil
*Depending on the height of the attic, put the catwalk where you can reach up and grab the rafters as you're traversing the attic. I'd be hard to fall off of a 2' catwalk, but if you start to, it's nice to have something to grab onto.Bob
*And give some thought to where the load is going:If you can locate the catwalk above or near some load-bearing walls all the better. 6" joists might need a little help if their span is long, you don't want any plaster / drywall pops later.
*Dear Phil,I'm on Long Island too. In case you're interested I found a source for cels (Bohemia) at $6.00 for a 30# bag and blower rental (Centereach) at $75/dy or $225/wk. Let me know if you need the details or if you've found anything better.To All,How do those prices compare in you're area?Sincerely,Jerry
*Jerry,Actually, I haven't found a rental unit yet. I haven't found too many places that SELL cells around here let alone have a rental blower. Not even Home Depot. And I only found TWO outfits that install cells. The Bohemia place is probably the same place I had found via the yellowpages, a manufacturer (I dont have the name handy right now). Who is renting blowers?Did you do the cells yourself? Any walls or just the attic?I'd be interested in hearing about your experience. How far does a 30# bag spread around volume-wise?Phil
*Phil,I don't have the papers in front of me right now but I think the place in Bohemia is called Pinacle, or something like that. There's a place at the Brooklyn Navy Yard that sells cels and also delivers for about $7/bag. The rental place I refered to is called Centereach Rental. I think I also called Dolan Tool Rental; their price was a little higher but might be worth it depending on the type of blower. Some of the other guys here would have more info on the best type of blower (FredL, Bill Conners, maybe Steve Zerby?).I have no experience blowing cels, but plan to do it very soon. If you are dense packing it's easy to figure how far a bag goes, in fact, you have to know befor hand to ensure you are achieving the desired density. If you are blowing it into an attic, I have no idea. I will be doing both.If you need phone numbers, I can get them for you tomorrow.Jerry
*Phil,Are you doing the walls too, or just the attic?Jerry
*Jerry I was considering doing the attic myself versus hiring someone. It doesn't seem too difficult from the descriptions of how to blow an open attic. I saw some chic on TV doing it! The walls I'm pretty sure I will hire out. Too many "cats" and the fact that the rooms are gutted to the studs, I want to get the walls done with sprayed cellulose before the sheetrock goes up.Phil
*Phil... get the walls done with DensePak cellulose after the sheetrock gets hung but before you tape...the wet spray cost a lot more and is not THAT much more effective...most of the insul. subs are well versed in blowing the bays thru the sheetrock...if you want some reassurance, mark the studs on the floor before you rock or take a photo of each wall..free advice, so take it for what it's worth...Mike
*Mike,I hear ya.... I just don't want so many holes punched in new drywall in every bay!Thanks for your input.Phil
*Phil,I felt the same way about that new drywall, but a method was described here that sounds good. You hang the drywall (say 1/2") so that both tapered edges meet horizontally in the middle of the wall, as usual, except that you leave a 3" or 4" space between the sheets. Blow the cels into through this space while blocking the opening with a rag, then fill in with a strip of 3/8" drywall and finish as usual.Jerry
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I have an attic with 2x6 joists. I'll be adding blown in insulation to a height of about 15 inches. Any future attic travels (roof inspections, adding phone/cable/electric, etc) will be pretty tricky. Don't want to add a new attic hatch to the living room!
Any ideas on a SAFE, inexpensive "catwalk" down the center of the attic where the main load bearing below? Is there a building code on this issue?
Phil