What width ply (or other wood if cheaper) LOFT FLOOR

[tmackinder]

hey there. I have a brick house with a tiled roof. I don't think that's entirely important but thought I would say in case it is.

What I want to do is use the space in my roof as storage. I was thinking about putting down plywood or (if you know of any cheaper options) something else. If I use ply wood what is the thickness I need to have a platform that can be walked on.

I want it to be able to be walked on. Basically because, even though I only neeed it to store boxes of christmas lights and the sort, I know someone will inevitably walk on it thinking it looks nice and sturdy. So I think it's important to do it to a standard that someone can walk on it.

Any help would be appreciated. I went to the Hardware and someone suggested 12m but I thought I would ask to see what others actually thought.

Oh yes I thought I would buy it soon and use it first as an outside dance floor (1 day only) then take it apart then put in the the roof. My 5 year old girls have a birthday coming up.

thanks for your help!
Troy

 

[JohnD]

This is a UK website and our building practices and materials are different to yours so I think you would do better asking locally.

the strength and weight capacity depends on the timbers the roof is made of, their cross-section, length and spacing, that you hope to lay the floor on. Modern UK roofs are made of trussed sections which are scientifically calculated to be minimum cost and strength that is adequate to hold the ceilings up and not fall down in a strong wind. They are not designed to take weight like a floor.

We generally consider 18mm the minimum thickness (not width) for a floor you walk on. Ply is stronger and more rigid than chipboard which is cheaper. In Australia some timber floorboards (like planks) are better quality and lower prices than we can get here so may be an alternative for you.

We do not have many wood-boring insects and no white ants so our treatments are different.

Our approach to lofts centres around heat insulation and the avoidance of condensation