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exup
Member
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# Posted: 10 Feb 2020 12:20am
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Hey guys, I’m looking to take down the small loft and add a larger and slightly taller loft in the cabin. I don’t have much building experience but studying the current loft and looking at some basic plans it seems doable with the help of some friends. The cabin is standard 2x4 stick frame. The loft will be 20x16 with two supporting walls on one half of the loft and stairs off that with some supporting beams that I’d assume should be 6x6?
With limited height, I’m curious if it’s reasonable to use 4x4s as the floor hoist instead of 2x8s or 2x10s? If this is doable, would I still use braces screwed to the studs at 16â€then attached to the 4x4s? Any help will be very appreciated!
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Irrigation Guy
Member
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# Posted: 10 Feb 2020 06:53am
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I don’t think 4x4s are suitable floor joists. They will flex when you walk on them.
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Nobadays
Member
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# Posted: 10 Feb 2020 09:07am
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It is the depth of the dimensional lumber that gives it the strength/stiffness needed as a floor joist. Use of 2x8, 2x10, etc is usually based on length of span... there are span calculators like this one out there as well as charts to help you size them properly.
My guess is you are thinking you can gain head room by using the 4x4 for joist rather than the current 2x8/2x10 or whatever is in there. It may be possible to use 2x6 but that will depend again on the span. If there are supporting walls under the loft these can help shorten the span... if... they are redesigned to carry the load.
A drawing of some sort with dimensions will go a long way toward getting help from others on here (like ICC) who really know their stuff. Otherwise it's just guessing.
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Brettny
Member
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# Posted: 10 Feb 2020 12:27pm
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Yea a drawing even a crude one with a pencil will help. Joist size is dependant on joist size. It is possible to not need a vertical post by one side of your stairs but draw something up.
What's wrong with the loft you currently have?
16' lumber is easy to find so use that where your spaning your 16' building. But if your trying to span 16' even with a 2x12 you may need a center support/wall.
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paulz
Member
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# Posted: 10 Feb 2020 05:30pm
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I'm no builder either but I wanted to save height on my loft so used 2x6s on 1' centers, and only 12' wide. I only use it for storage but for a bedroom it would be fine, doesn't seem to flex at all.
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ICC
Member
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# Posted: 10 Feb 2020 07:04pm
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Pictures or drawings with dimensions needed
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Brettny
Member
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# Posted: 11 Feb 2020 08:07am
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Paulz you have knee walls and you built it why bother with 2x6 for floor joists. I would rather loose 2-3in of head room and have a solid floor.
You could also have a higher pitch roof or do a gambrel roof for head room. You don't always have to lower the floor.
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paulz
Member
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# Posted: 11 Feb 2020 09:52am - Edited by: paulz
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I had to look up knee walls..the walls are all 12' studs, the loft was an afterthought. Roof pitch was limited to total building height restriction of 15'. IIRC I looked up the 2x6s, which I already had leftover from the bundle I bought for rafters, in the span table online and they were acceptable on 1' centers. My wife can't get up there so no use as a living or sleeping area.
As I said I'm no builder. The whole cabin was a last grasp effort to do something to enjoy the property. And we've done that quite a bit.
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