"Yank_fan_2965" wrote on 30 Dec 2005:

Joists are present and spaced at 32 inches. Were attics made 65
years ago without ventilation? Am I missing something? I'd like
to build knee walls and install a flat drywall ceiling with
recessed lighting just below the level of the joists. But I
don't want to do it without proper ventilation. Any suggestions?

You haven't given us the size and the span of the joists, but I'm
betting that your structure isn't sufficient to carry the weight of
finished space, certainly not at 32" OC unless this is post and
beam construction. It may also be that you don't have sufficient
height to get a legal ceiling (7'6") in there. So I'd guess that
ventilation isn't even close to being your real problem.

I don't know whether your apparently non-ventilated attic was
deliberate or the result of some clueless owner hoping to save on
heating costs. Non-vented roofs do get built today, but such a
system is somewhat controversial. And it's not done the way yours
is done with an open attic below.

You really need the help of an architect, engineer, or good design-
build person if you want to finish this space.

--
Doug Boulter

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