Boarding loft

[Nik0967]

I wonder if anybody could give me some advice please.

My Sister has asked me to board her loft out and being the loving brother I said I would
I went up to have a look and discovered the beams are cut and connected together with metal plates on every beam. The loft is only going to be used for storage. The house is an 80s build. any suggestions on how I would be able to board it out would be appreciated. I have attached a couple of pics

Thanks
Nik

 

[Bosswhite]

Tongue and Groove flooring Chipboard, just push the joints together and an occasional screw or nail into a joist to stop movement

 

[Nik0967]

Bosswhite thanks for your reply. My only other question is will it be safe enough to walk around once it's boarded as my only concern is the weight on the rafters.

Many thanks
Nik

 

[Burnerman]

Keep the joints of the boards on the joists and all will be well.
John

 

[Nik0967]

Thank you. I just realised I had forgotten to mention something in my first post.

The rafters have 2 cuts in them so the middle section of the rafter is joined either end by the plate. is that a problem

I have put another picture to show.

 

[Burnerman]

It will still be fine, and you can space the boards so they span the joining plates.
John

 

[Nik0967]

Thank John

The space between the rafters is quite large would it be advisable to put any wood noggins in to support the middle of the chipboard to stop it bowing?

 

[Burnerman]

Hardly necessary, I think....presumably it's just storage that you have in mind? 18mm chipboard is pretty strong!
John

 

[Nik0967]

Yes just storage nothing outrageously heavy.

Many thanks for your help John

Nik

 

[geraldthehamster]

Joists butt-joined with nail plates? How can that be right?

Cheers
Richard

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Joists butt-joined with nail plates? How can that be right?

That's completely normal for these kinds of trusses and because the forces placed upon the joint are relatively low, maybe at maximum a fat builder standing on the joint during construction. They're not designed to be as strong as floor joists. Hence the advice to be sensible about what's stored up there.

 

[Bosswhite]

By the Manufacturers joining the two pieces of timber trusses together saves waste on timber and saves another tree !