emcreech
Member
I'm a Newbie here and apologize if there was an existing thread where I should have tacked this. I've found gobs of info here and elsewhere on Web re: attic access, but not this. Is there a difference if the opening is from another attic through the sheathing or extension of roofing OSB? (Latter case applies to space over large dormer window.)
Case in point: We added a 2-story attached garage, completed in Nov 2012. The only access to new attic is through a 14" x 22" (W x H) opening cut through the sheathing of the original end wall of the house from the existing attic. Access to existing attic is not a problem. It would not be possible to make opening significantly larger without structural changes. (There are actually 2 trapezoidal openings with post (2 - 2x4's) between. 14" x 22" is the larger one.)
The new attic space is >30 sq. ft. & taller than 30"*. If a thin, acrobatic 5' person could get in there, he could stand in the middle. It would be possible to use it for storage if assessable, but with all the knee-wall space, I do not see how even a committed pack-rat could need it. All that is up there is a lot of NM wire, boxes for 2 ceiling fixtures, and drops for 3 outdoor floods & 5 knee-wall lights.
I have painstakingly run telephone & Cat5 cable across the corner and into knee-wall space. (I stupidly didn't think to do that during construction.) I want to add another outdoor LED flood on opposite end of house, but on same circuit. Only reasonable place to tie-in is in that new attic. I'm sure there will be other reasons to get up there.
*Is that 30 sq ft having 30" above or total area of attic having at least 30" height in the center? Space in question would meet both conditions, but not space over dormer.
Thank you for being here and any advice you can give me.
EM Creech
Case in point: We added a 2-story attached garage, completed in Nov 2012. The only access to new attic is through a 14" x 22" (W x H) opening cut through the sheathing of the original end wall of the house from the existing attic. Access to existing attic is not a problem. It would not be possible to make opening significantly larger without structural changes. (There are actually 2 trapezoidal openings with post (2 - 2x4's) between. 14" x 22" is the larger one.)
The new attic space is >30 sq. ft. & taller than 30"*. If a thin, acrobatic 5' person could get in there, he could stand in the middle. It would be possible to use it for storage if assessable, but with all the knee-wall space, I do not see how even a committed pack-rat could need it. All that is up there is a lot of NM wire, boxes for 2 ceiling fixtures, and drops for 3 outdoor floods & 5 knee-wall lights.
I have painstakingly run telephone & Cat5 cable across the corner and into knee-wall space. (I stupidly didn't think to do that during construction.) I want to add another outdoor LED flood on opposite end of house, but on same circuit. Only reasonable place to tie-in is in that new attic. I'm sure there will be other reasons to get up there.
*Is that 30 sq ft having 30" above or total area of attic having at least 30" height in the center? Space in question would meet both conditions, but not space over dormer.
Thank you for being here and any advice you can give me.
EM Creech