Cut Hole In Ceiling For Attic Access

Use long nails to nail an outline next to joists where ceiling material will need to be cut away.
Cut hole in ceiling for attic access. Werner s easy access attic ladder 5 cut ceiling joists step 1 mark. Cut one rafter with a handsaw to allow space for you to crawl up into the attic. I need to have attic access in my bonus room. Position a stepladder directly under the desired area for the attic access hole.
I ve been nervous about cutting a hole but it is time. Do not cut through a double beam in the attic since these are support beams for the entire house. Using a stud finder mark your joists. Locate an area centered between the two joists and cut a 6 to 8 inch diameter hole using a keyhole saw.
The following diagram figure 1 shows the floor or ceiling joists after the access hole has been cut to install a new flight of stairs or provide an attic access. If you ve got to cut a hole in a drywall ceiling for a light fixture you could just let the dust and debris fall and clean it up later but there s a better. You must have a location that is free of hazards and obstructions in the overhead space and is free of hazards in the ceiling. For some unknown reason attic access doors in older homes are usually through a small scuttle hole cut in the ceiling.
How to make a scuttle attic a k a. The space above the ceiling is very tight but there is inadequate insulation and i need to add support for a projector. Attic access panel determine where your joists are. Use a straight edge knife to cut any drywall paper that.
How to cut a hole in the ceiling for attic access 1. Using drywall knife start cutting the ceiling out along your line. If the room has no ceiling. Locate the joists behind the drywall.
I will be crawling around up there as i m 6 tall. Often the access is in an out of the way place like a closet. Your goal is to cut a hole that is the correct size at the desired location in the ceiling. Figure 1 modified joists there are some important points to highlight.
The nails will show where the joists lie in the attic. Cut 2 joist sized boards long enough to span two joists on each side of your chosen. If the room has a ceiling and you have cut the required hole go to step 2. I wanted to get opinions on where to put the access.