ᐅ Extend the attic using OSB panels

Hello everyone,

We have a town villa, and the attic is unfinished and not planned to be converted. Currently, it is covered with about 10sqm (108 sq ft) of OSB boards so that we can store boxes or similar items.

10sqm (108 sq ft) feels a bit small to us, and our site manager said that if we want to add more OSB boards, we would need to consult the structural engineer first.

I don’t want to start a structural engineering debate, but if I add around 15 more boards (about 300kg (660 lbs) total), could that significantly affect the structural load and potentially cause issues?

In case you’re wondering, we don’t plan to store anything very heavy up there—just luggage, Christmas decorations, and my partner’s knick-knacks. 😉

That's actually what an attic is for, and it is usually used that way. If there are structural issues, the calculations should be reviewed carefully :-)

Since we don’t know how your attic is constructed, it’s not possible to say whether there could be any issues.

Either you provide us with some details or show us pictures so we can assess the situation, or you follow your site manager’s advice, which is probably the better option, as I don’t think anyone here can give you a definitive answer on whether it will be sufficient or not.

Uh... if there are already structural issues there, what will happen once something is stored there?

Maybe the other beams are not actual beams but just a support structure (UK: joist) for the ceiling. That could potentially cause a structural issue.

Yes, these aren’t really beams. More like a prefabricated structure.