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Garage Storage loft design

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72FordGTS

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Joined
Oct 22, 2010
Messages
26
Location
ON, Canada
I think I have come up with a design that will work for a garage stroage loft.

The dimensions are approx 28' wide, and it will have a depth of 4'. I am thinking of making a beam out of 2x12's (three thick), with 4x4 posts on each end to the floor. The back will have a 2x12 lagged to the wall studs, then the I could use 2x8's on joist hangers between the back wall board and the beam.

I found this thread, where poster made basically what I am looking for in a 24' wide garage and his is 6' deep. I basically used the same design as him, but the beam across the front is 3 boards wide instead of his using 2. Will I need the beam to be three 2x12's thick?

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=76977&highlight=loft

Any advice or comments are appreciated.
 
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Dragster Racer

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Feb 9, 2008
Messages
1,891
Location
Morrison, IL
That's a pretty long span to spread, but he is using 2 2x8s it looks like..
I'm no expert, but I would feel safe going for it. My loft was probably not supported quite as well, and it is still up there!
 
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7

72FordGTS

Active member
Joined
Oct 22, 2010
Messages
26
Location
ON, Canada
Nothing overly heavy, some left over construction materials (flooring, few bundles of shingles, some cultured stone from around the fireplace), seasonal items (patio furniture, garden hoses, etc), car parts (nothing super heavy like an engine, or ******).

Do you think this design would be good to hold say 2000 lbs?
 
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ErickForest

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Sep 17, 2008
Messages
175
Location
Minnesota
I built a mezzanine above my garage door also. I used 2x6 construction for the floor. I also used uni-strut with threaded rod to support the beam. Un-strut along the ceiling attached to every rafter/floor joist above and then uni-strut on the bottom of the 2x6. 1/2" Threaded rod every 4'-0" It is very sturdy. I put all the weight along the back wall. I also built some stairs along the wall for access.
 

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m.james

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Sep 27, 2010
Messages
230
ErickForest said:
I built a mezzanine above my garage door also. I used 2x6 construction for the floor. I also used uni-strut with threaded rod to support the beam. Un-strut along the ceiling attached to every rafter/floor joist above and then uni-strut on the bottom of the 2x6. 1/2" Threaded rod every 4'-0" It is very sturdy. I put all the weight along the back wall. I also built some stairs along the wall for access.
Click to expand...

How much weight does this support.
 
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MikeYC

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Joined
May 5, 2009
Messages
126
Location
Da' Burg Virginia
If I was gonna hang a ton up there I would spend the $216 dollars and buy a LVL beam and have it engineered.

I am using mine for lite loads ( Seasonal decorations and empty suitcases)
 
S

sneezer41

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 8, 2007
Messages
407
Location
People's Republic of Mass
look guys this is neither guesswork nor rocket science, just do the math

google design a simple beam.

learn how to do it and you will always know how.

go to amazon and get a copy of 'from the ground up' an out of print book, everything you need to know about building is in there.
 
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7

72FordGTS

Active member
Joined
Oct 22, 2010
Messages
26
Location
ON, Canada
Do you have any good sites for beam load calculations? I have been trying to find some without luck.

I am not saying I will have 2000 lbs on there, just asking if it could hold that much? I planned on having the front corner posts, so I am not hanging all the weight from the walls and ceiling (in fact no weight will be supported from the ceiling).

I don't think I could hang mine from the trusses because that wasn't factored into the design.
 
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