How much weight is OK to have in attic?

babyangel10

Hi there,

Have just had a MAJOR clear out in my attic, (admittedly to make way for more !!!!!! ) and really want to know if there is any prob with having similar weight of stuff up there to what's in (for example) an average bedroom? There prob isn't quite as much as that though.

It is boarded with approx 1" MDF and the heaviest stuff is placed around the edges as my dad said that was the best place for it.

There are 4 bookcases and a chest of drawers (around the edges) to store lots of books, photo albums, tools, keepsakes etc up there, plus things in the obligatory bin bags around the middle of the attic, that will come in useful 'one day!'

I'm obviously just concerned that the whole lot will come in on me one day :eek:

Any advice welcomed! Thanks

Idiophreak

I think it depends on your loft - ours only has half the beams across the floor that a bedroom would have, so I wouldn't feel confident in putting the same amount of stuff up there.

WestonDave

Most builders will say that the joists in the loft are designed to support the weight of the ceiling below - not a load of other stuff. In reality older houses are generally overengineered in this respect and people have been walking about in their loft spaces for years without problems unless caused by rot etc. Loft conversions involve putting in more, thicker joists to support the weight of furniture and people - it isn't just putting down some floor and making up some walls etc.

Once you realise what its designed for you can then begin to make judgements for yourself about what to store up there. First thing to assess is the density of the support - if you measure centre to centre, are your joints 40cm apart or 60 cm apart roughly - the former is the old standard, but newer houses tend to be to the latter which obviously offers less support.

That said I did come across a house clearance where the removal agent estimated (potential for exageration!) that he'd removed 2 tons of papers (old magazines) from a deceased persons loft - however that had caused the joists to bow permanently and the house was very difficult to sell - but the ceiling didn't come down!

The key is to spread it evenly around the space - near the walls is better as that's supported by the wall (and less leverage) - so that each individual joist bears as little weight as possible.

Personal opinion - if you're storing books in the loft you might as well get rid of them unless they are technical/reference books that you need from time to time. In reality you probably won't ever bother going up to get one just to read it and lofts tend to be slightly damp due to outside air flowing through which won't do the books much good. Be ruthless and stick them on ebay or green metropolis and pocket the cash!

Idiophreak

Also, for what it's worth - we've got a mountain of stuff in our attic and the only time anything's ever come through is when my dad stuck his foot through the ceiling above my bed