Make Sure Attic Is Sturdy Before Adding Laminate Floors

Now that you ve installed your laminate flooring it s time to add the finishing touches.

Make sure attic is sturdy before adding laminate floors.

In the future you may want to construct a small apartment or master suite in the attic. 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. 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. Laminate flooring in the kitchen is okay as long as you re diligent about cleaning up spills and splashes.

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. If you have recently used laminate for your floors this material makes a beautiful veneer that can be applied over a piece of solid wood. Before you start creating a floor for your attic you must make sure that it can handle the additional load. Go into the attic to inspect how wiring is routed through joists or on top of them for example.

Sturdy flooring material can also make an excellent shelf. Sistering is the process of adding a new joist next to each existing joist. Build a new floor base with this in mind. Don t add flooring until you review wiring and plumbing needs for the future.

Then you ll need to build a grid like structure that can hold up the plywood flooring. If your floors are bouncy and also noticeably sagging they probably are too weak. When you use the laminate to create a shelf it s also a great way to create a cohesive matching look in your home. Also make sure the floor is clean flat and smooth.

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. Before installing laminate first prepare the subfloor. This article will show you three better ways to take the bounce out of a floor. Adding a floor to an attic can increase storage space or create a new room.

You can stiffen the floor in just one room or in as many rooms as you like. The methods we ll cover make floors stiffer but not necessarily stronger. Before you start make sure that your floor is designed to hold the weight of a floor and stored items. Remove all spacers from around the room.

Strengthening attic joists for live loads by sistering.