Above overhead garage door storage-Need ideas

[iibgdi]

I'm sure there are already threads with pictures and instructions on here but this place can be overwhelming when trying to find something.

I am looking to store some lumber (mostly various lengths of 2x4's etc and a few sheets of plywood. The best place appears to be above the garage door suspended from the ceiling. I have a basic idea of what I want to do but wanted some input.

Any help with ideas or links would be appreciated.
Thanks

 

[iibgdi]

I might mention that I would like to build it almost entirely with 2x4's as I have quite a large # of them to use....

 

[MFolks]

Are your rafters exposed, or is the garage finished(drywall)? If drywalled, you're going to have to maybe use a stud finder, or drill some 1/8" holes to find out where the rafters are, and then (hopefully),see if they are on 16" or 24" centers.

 

[alpinewhite]

Are your rafters exposed, or is the garage finished(drywall)? If drywalled, you're going to have to maybe use a stud finder, or drill some 1/8" holes to find out where the rafters are, and then (hopefully),see if they are on 16" or 24" centers.

I think you mean the ceiling joists

 

[iibgdi]

Sorry, forgot to specify.

The garage is finished and the rafters/joists run north/south with the garage doors facing north.

I can crawl up in the attack and see if they are 16 or 24. Hold please

 

[iibgdi]

24" joists

 

[MFolks]

Yep, joists. There are wire products designed to hold items to be stored above garage doors, that are adjustable in height. My local Ace Hardware store sells them & I have installed 4 in my garage, with two more ready to go up. Makes good use of the ceiling for storage of tubs & Christmas items. Just make sure the screws used are long enough, and in the center of the joists.

 

[iibgdi]

I really don't want to go buy something when I have dozens of 2x4's right here that I can build it with.

Honestly, I am probably one of the least handy people I know. (My wife laughed when I said what I wanted to do. She then said...."why don't you ask 'such and such' and 'such and such' to help you so you don't screw it up"............


So, you can see what I'm dealing with here......pretty serious stuff.

I'm thinking it would be very easy to do, I just need something to visualize. It shouldn't be that complex, just need a track to run on.

 

[iibgdi]

It could be something as easy as this but I'm not sure what the best way to attach it to the ceiling would be. AND to make sure it looks nice and is sturdy.

Again the joists run the same direction as the garage.

 

[iibgdi]

and this doesn't quite seem strong enough to me but I see they reinforced with steel. I don't want to cut a hole in my ceiling to attach either.

I guess I'd like something a bit more solid. Both in look and function.

I wouldn't mind having a section wide enough to store some sheeting at some point as well. Right now just a bunch of 2x4's

 

[iibgdi]

bump

 

[Rated ///M]

how much wood to store are we talking here? The Joists are only designed to effectively carry the dead load of the sheetrock and insulation. I don't think I would want to rely on these to carry the amount of weight that multiple sheets of plywood would introduce.

Why are you holding on to the plywood and all the wood? Do you for see upcoming projects to use it or is it going to sit and collect dust? If you are not going to use it, get rid of it/sell it and go out and buy more when a project comes along that requires it.

 

[iibgdi]

how much wood to store are we talking here?

for now, just 1 sheet of plywood.

but I have probably 50-60 various lengths of 2x4's. (6ft, 8ft and 12ft)

I do plan to use some of the 2x4's for various projects. This one to begin with and then some cabinets and a bench or 2. I doubt I go through them all but I would like to have a place to "hide" them. Plus I have some various lengths of PVC and conduit etc.

 

[upndown]

Just a word of warning..No matter what you decide to put up there, if you have a torsion spring door Make Sure you leave some room above the springs for future service, broken spring, etc. Same goes with the opener.

 

[chicken89]

and this doesn't quite seem strong enough to me but I see they reinforced with steel. I don't want to cut a hole in my ceiling to attach either.

i did something similar to the picture, but my 2x4s to be saved were 12' in length (in a 16ish foot garage). so i made the end closest to the garage door closed off (boxed look), and the end closest to the other end of garage open ended (think "L") and used rope to tie up the open end (to close the box look) so i could slide the wood out. even if the garage door was open, i could still pull out the 2x4s.

 

[CNGsaves]

Search prior GJ threads as there have been some good ones on storage like you are talking about.

You could build some nice ones using UniStrut where the only hole through ceiling woudl be for the threaded rods up to support system in attic (ie 2x4's across joists ; this would be strongest). Or could avoid holes through ceiling and instead lag bolt the Unistrut to bottoms of ceiling joists.

There are also store-bought "cages" that hang from ceiling, but these are more for light-weight storage.

SIDE STORY: When house hunting, there was one where die-hard carpenter had built special slot that would allow 4'x8' sheets of plywood, etc. to be stored down in the unfinished portion of his basement . . . too cool as it had hinged door to close up the gap when not in use.

 

[iibgdi]

Real quick....need some advice. I'm getting ready to install....

joists are 24" wide. I am planning to make something similar to pic above and make 3 "U" shaped storage hangers and attach them on the joists with lag bolts.

My question is should I just make 3 of them at 24" intervals or should I make 3 at 48" intervals.

OR should I just go with 4 of them at 24" intervals and be done with it.

 

[gunguy]

I think you've got the basic idea based on the photos posted. If you want to reinforce the connections, brose the Simpson Strong Tie section at your favorite Home Depot, Lowes, Menards... You'll find something that will work for you .

Jim

 

[Fyrme]

Here is a shot of mine. I built this out of desperate need for dry wood storage. I spread the weight out across 4 joist. I am considering taking it down since lately my garage door has been catching on it, indicating it has sagged 1" since I built it. As has been said, the trusses are not designed to hold weight like that.

 

[Fyrme]

Another since my ipad will only load one pic per post

 

[CNGsaves]

Here is a shot of mine. I built this out of desperate need for dry wood storage. I spread the weight out across 4 joist. I am considering taking it down since lately my garage door has been catching on it, indicating it has sagged 1" since I built it. As has been said, the trusses are not designed to hold weight like that.

If your ceiling is sagging (ie due to weight of lumber), then you could "cheat" and use some cable systems up in attic to pull up the ceiling to the top of joists (near peak). If need be you could jack up the lumber storage just like it is from below, then attach cables in attic with turnbuckles for adjustment.

All this assumes of course that attic is wide open and not used for storage.

 

[iibgdi]

Here is what I came up with.

I don't plan on loading it too heavily but it seems very sturdy.

The one on the left has been painted. the one on the right will get painted tomorrow night.

 

[Hornman]

I cannot tell from your pictures whether you used screws or nails. I hope it was screws since nails are not designed to hold in shear the way you have your fasteners installed.

 

[iibgdi]

Screws.

 

[Rezarf]

Looks good man.

 

[rancherbill]

for now, just 1 sheet of plywood.

but I have probably 50-60 various lengths of 2x4's. (6ft, 8ft and 12ft)

I do plan to use some of the 2x4's for various projects. This one to begin with and then some cabinets and a bench or 2. I doubt I go through them all but I would like to have a place to "hide" them. Plus I have some various lengths of PVC and conduit etc.

ummmmm, get going on your projects then you don't have to store them!!! Do this simple project then you only have to store 30 or 40. Then do the others on your list. Don't waste time on building a storage unit that will be empty after you do your projests.

 

[iibgdi]

Hi Bill, I'm so far behind on everything I want to do, I feel like I'll never get caught up. Actually, I just epoxied have the garage and I am trying to get everything off the floor before I go and do the other side.

Once epoxy is done, I'll be starting on these projects!!

 

[alpinewhite]

Any updates, OP? I'm about to tackle overhead storage in my garage today.

 

[tigig]

I cannot tell from your pictures whether you used screws or nails. I hope it was screws since nails are not designed to hold in shear the way you have your fasteners installed.

Actually, that's not quite true. Nails are designed specifically for shear strength. So the way he has them in there, they should be nails. That's why you can't use screws to install joist hangers, for example.

Screw heads will snap right off with too much movement. Here's a test: drive a nail and a screw through a board. Flip it over and hammer the heck out of it. Which one of the two breaks?

BUT, if you use glue and then screw, the mechanical fasteners become irrelevant anyway.

I am doing something similar for my storage, but will be screwing from below up into the vertical supports, which is where the screws are strongest.

Hope this helps!