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I would like to take advantage of some available attic space to use as storage being that we are extremely tight on space in our old Victorian row house. My plan is to install an attic ladder and create an enclosed area by putting up sheetrock walls and laying plywood over the joists. My contractor says it is doable but I wanted to get a second opinion.

Based on the pictures and video, does this project seem feasible? I was also wondering if the vertical pieces of wood seen in the pics are needed? They seem fragile and don't appear to be doing much.

See video here: https://youtu.be/2YgG5_cZVx4

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    It's dangerously foolhardy to jump to the conclusion that the folks who built your house just had a bunch of lumber they didn't need, so they slapped it into the structure for no reason other than to impede your storage project 150 years later. Particularly if your "joists" are 2x2-1/8" which makes the storage dubious at best.
    – Ecnerwal
    Commented Jan 7 at 16:23
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    +1 to the concern about weight bearing on 2”x2” sticks. Throwing plywood up there both helps (spreads load) and hinders (adds weight). Honestly, if storage was my concern, this would rank dead last in my list of places to use.
    – Aloysius Defenestrate
    Commented Jan 7 at 16:31
  • I only asked about the vertical sticks because they seem very weak, some are hardly attached. Only thing I can think of is that they are there to prevent warping of the 2x2 joists somehow?
    – Yardley
    Commented Jan 7 at 16:47
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    Don’t want to beat a dead horse, but the verticals are not your biggest problem. If you’re a cracked plaster enthusiast and absolutely must store stuff up there, just work around them.
    – Aloysius Defenestrate
    Commented Jan 7 at 16:53
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    There is no structure up there to support a floor and storables, the "joists" are to hold up the plaster ceiling only.
    – kreemoweet
    Commented Jan 8 at 4:46

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There is a reason that the original hatch is on one side. It is avoid cutting the "joist". You should also do the same. It may look better in the centre, but you are cutting into structural timber, which is already weak by todays standards.

But if you must, then you should consult an Engineer.

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