Over the garage attic storage

[mhoffm911]

Well, I spent the entire day today prepping for and putting in blown-in insulation in over my garage. I have a finished "ceiling" down below and your normal trusses above. I have a pull-down ladder system to get up and down from the attic, so it's not too bad putting things up there.

As we seem to be pack rats (imagine that in my business - auctioneering), I am looking for attic storage ideas. Everything in my household is for sale, so most items going up there are only going to be there 6 months at the most.

I saw these and thought they were a great idea. Looks like I have to special order from Home Depot:

http://www.infiniteattic.com/index.html

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&productId=100490191

Does anyone else have any other ideas that work well? I have basic carpenter tools and skills.

[Franz©]

Don't know about anybody else, but I think I could buy one hell of a lot of 3" drywall screws for what they charge for them little brackets.
Fact is I think I could make a lot stronger floor using screws and some 2x2 or even 3/4 x 2 scrap lumber.

Then again, I might just prefab a few panels that slipped in between my truss and lift them up then screw em in place. I damn well wouldn't want to count on the plywood or OSB to not belly with a load onit over time.

[Danglerb]

I would opt for home brew, nothing very heavy, and keep in mind it all goes up easier than it comes down.

[1320stang]

i took 7/16 OSB and cut it into 24" wide strips. I put them up into the attic and ran them across the trusses and screwed them down to the tops of the truss's bottom member. At the gaps where the webs of the truss came down, I cut some strips of OSB about an inch bigger than the gap and 22 1/2" long (the space between the trusses) and just screwed them to the long OSB strips. I know I have (my wife has) far too mich up in the attic as you can see where the drywall joints have cracked thru the paper tape. I'm over 250# and have no problems yet walking on it.

[danski0224]

Just keep in mind that the bottom chord of residential trusses is *not* engineered for any weight bearing, other than drywall if applied.

[mhoffm911]

Thanks for the replies so far. I recognize that the trusses are not designed for substantial storage - nor do I ever intend to put that up there as I have a storage unit for such stuff. I'm looking to store holiday decorations and the like up there. I don't expect any box to weigh more than 20 pounds and the weight would be spread out.

I thought about scabbing other pieces of scrap lumber on to the trusses with lag bolts and then putting plywood over top. My main issue with this is the amount of time it will take. I think I can speed the process up using the brackets linked to in my first post. I recognize the cost, but my time is very valuable to me as well.

[danski0224]

Sometimes, the weight of the added plywood itself will exceed the truss rating... before the 20# box or two or three is put up there.

The roof (sheathing, roofing material, snow and wind) loads are also partially carried by the bottom chord.

The weight issue becomes even more important on long clear spans like a garage ceiling.

Would you trust a floor made up of 2 x 4's set 24" on center with a 20' clear span? Now, throw in a couple of those splices. Still want to walk up there?

Yeah, I know that the bottom chord is attached to the top (roof), and that helps carry the load, but builders spec the trusses to the minimum capacity to do the job, which is to hold up the roof made up of 7/16" OSB and lightweight 15 or 20 year three tab shingles.

Those brackets you mention are a good idea in principle, but I bet execution will be difficult.

They will comperss insulation. If there is conduit where the brackets are, then they won't work. Just try and get a wide piece of wood up there parallel to the trusses and miss those sway braces (much easier if the ceiling is open and the "floor" can be slid in from below).

Some 3/4" plywood ripped to 24" widths placed perpendicular to the truss and tacked down to prevent movement will probably be easier.

Strips will prevent storing a lot of stuff up there, too.