Yes, yes. Look at me... and. my. bad. self. Yes, I am perfectly aware that this post contains no pictures, and therefore it is impossible for you to comply with that imperative statement; but get over it. ok?
While home over Christmas, I was helping my mom get boxes out of the poorly floored rafters of her garage attic. I was helping her because I didn't think it was a wise idea for her to stand on that step on the ladder that clearly states, "DO NOT STAND OR SIT ON THIS STEP." So rather than watch the painful recovery she would no doubt have to endure, I stood on the top step. No, I didn't fall, but I might as well have. While I was up there, I told her, "I have to come back down in two weeks anyway. I'll floor this thing properly and give you a ladder. It will only take a couple of hours."
Now, I am a fairly handy person, I know my way around a hammer. (Use the flat part to hit the nail.) But apparently, I do NOT know my way around a watch. You see, once ALL the pieces of plywood are cut and lifted up into the rafters, it takes about two hours to screw them down. (I prefer using galvanized screws to nails on such a job.) So in that sense, I was truthful when I said it would take me a couple of hours. What I didn't figure was the time it would take to:
- remove the several sheets of 3/8ths plywood that were previously poorly installed
- Purchase the necessary materials
- 10 sheets of 5/8ths plywood
- 14 Joist Hangers
- 2 2x10 joists (for extra bracing and attic door installation)
- 1 attic door w/stairs
- 1 box of 2" galvanized outdoor screws
- 50' of Romex wiring
- 3 junction boxes
- 2 ceramic light fixtures
- 1 light switch
- 1 box of wire nuts
- 1 wire stripper
- 1 chalk line
- 1 carpenter's square w/level
- 1 tape measure
- 2 1x4x12s for attic door trim
- 1 box 8penny nails for door installation
- Correctly wire new lights for the attic
- Correctly reroute existing wires that are spread willy-nilly over rafters
- Measure space, and cut wood to fit
- cut wood again because I cut it to fit, instead of cutting it to fit loosly
- Cut it AGAIN, because I have to remind myself, this is NOT a table, chair, cabinet, or any other piece of precision craftmanship. It doesn't need to be insulated. It doesn't need to be pretty. It's a FREAKING ATTIC FLOOR. It's going to hold BOXES!
- Measure every other piece at least 3/4ths too short on purpose!
- Lift 4'x(X' - 3/4") sheets of 5/8" plywood into rafters
- Install Attic Door (with a little help from my friends, ooh, I get high [i.e. up in the rafters] with a little help from my friends)
Did I say two hours? I meant days. Really, I did. Two days later, I hurt in places I didn't know I had. Two soaking baths of epson salt and baking soda later, I feel a little better, but my shoulders and mid-back still remember what I did to them, and they aren't letting me forget.
All in all It took two days to almost finish. I say almost because I work on Sundays. I have to be here, or people won't sing; and I'd be looking for other work. What remains? four lousy cross joists and one 24" x 56" sheet of plywood. That's it. Got it wired, got the door hung, and got it (mainly) floored. And despite the time it took and the unexpected snags I ran into, I'm really happy I did it. Mom has (after living in the house for 11 years) a decent garage attic. One that she can get to without killing herself. If I had it to do over again, I would've gotten up a little earlier (can you say 6:00a.m.?!).
