Mezzanine Plan and Material Requirements

[Dyno Dan]

Howdy all. I've got a wild hair to add a mezzanine. Have a look at the layout picture (the thick lined rectangles represent my proposed layout). Bay #1 is where I keep a long snowmobile trailer, bay #2 is where my JD 6085M hangs out, and bay #3 is where my min-JD 1025R and some attachments sit.

I would envision storing 5-6 snowmobiles, lawn mowers, and who knows what else up there. I would venture to say that I should plan for 5000# worth of load.

Can I use ledger boards on the gable end and along the back (eave) side and then drop posts into the #3 compacted road mix for the spans? What about post spacing? What kind of material for the ledgers, joists, and posts?

The other thing I've been mulling over is whether or not to be above the windows, or below. If above, I would have about 5' of overhead room, if below I would have plenty. If below then the snow blower wouldn't fit under, not would the 1025R......but storing things on the mezzanine would be easier The snowmobiles are around 10-12' long each.

Anywho, I just wanted to get the conversation rolling and hear some thoughts.

 

[Kaizen]

How are you going to get them up there? That’s a lot of weight so I won’t begin to try and quote sizes. I bet an engineer would spec I beams and steel that is self supporting.


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[Dyno Dan]

Little tractor and forks if I stay below the window, big tractor and forks if above the window. It may not be practical, so the sleds could stay in the enclosed trailer. I’ve got plenty of other stuff that could go up there.

 

[cvairwerks]

Freestanding steel columns and structure, only tied to the building to prevent racking. The proposed weight capacity is enough to get some engineering help.

 

[firebirdparts]

The concept of a ledger board doesn't apply because the means of support are on 8 foot spacings. You have to hold the weight up with an 8 feet long structure, so you will need a real beam there. Or, you could drop down support to the ground along the walls if you want to.

A ledger board works when you have an overabundance of support and so the board is working with, in the case of studs, a 16 inch span. A single board holds up the whole load, no problem. You are not in that situation.

 

[bad_idea]

5000 lb load is a lot, until you spread it out. Pounds per square foot is the concern engineers look at. How large you plan on building the mezzanine? If in your shoes, I would build a free standing structure out of steel and decked with plywood. I'm not an engineer.

 

[GMCGarage]

Howdy all. I've got a wild hair to add a mezzanine. Have a look at the layout picture (the thick lined rectangles represent my proposed layout). Bay #1 is where I keep a long snowmobile trailer, bay #2 is where my JD 6085M hangs out, and bay #3 is where my min-JD 1025R and some attachments sit.

I would envision storing 5-6 snowmobiles, lawn mowers, and who knows what else up there. I would venture to say that I should plan for 5000# worth of load.

Can I use ledger boards on the gable end and along the back (eave) side and then drop posts into the #3 compacted road mix for the spans? What about post spacing? What kind of material for the ledgers, joists, and posts?

The other thing I've been mulling over is whether or not to be above the windows, or below. If above, I would have about 5' of overhead room, if below I would have plenty. If below then the snow blower wouldn't fit under, not would the 1025R......but storing things on the mezzanine would be easier The snowmobiles are around 10-12' long each.

Anywho, I just wanted to get the conversation rolling and hear some thoughts.

What are your posts? The ledger, beams, and joists can be sized, you might have issues getting the connection capacity in the posts to support it. You might need to sister posts to the main building posts to support it. Sounds like you are in the range of 100psf design load, i would say a heavy storage type load.

 

[Dyno Dan]

Thanks all. To answer a couple of questions:

Mezz size = 22’W and then off back wall about 12’. Not sure if I will project further into bay #3 like the picture shows.

Posts are laminated 2x6

From what I’m hearing the load / weight is enough to consider a free standing structure. If the load spec wasn’t as high, so let’s say 3000#, could I use a ledger on the back wall.....the posts are about 9.5’ apart. Then across the front new posts at 10’ and 12’ with a double or triple 2x10 beam?

Also I should mention the cold side / machinery side of the building will continue life with a dirt floor. I didn’t have plans to pour concrete on that side. That being said I was going to sink posts into the #3 road mix for mezz project.

I’ve read many posts and I certainly don’t want to cut corners for convenience sake.

 

[krapie]

i went with pallet racking. Made multipurpose pallets, held sleds in the summer, mower deck, and small riding mower in the winter. Adjustble to fit the need as interest change over the years.

 

[Kaizen]

For that size you would need poured footings/sono tubes at all support posts.
Consider pallet racking as suggested. You can put long objects against the wall so only out four feet instead of 12. They are freestanding and hold several tons on each level. You still need footings though.
Anything else I’d get a pro to figure it out. Cost will be up there as well. Probably cheaper to build another building.


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[YukonXL04]

I'm thinking maybe a 4 post lift with solid deck built on it. Then you could raise and lower it to load and unload items... dig some holes and set some sonotubes in there and pour concrete just in the 4 post locations... seems easier than getting on a tractor every time and hooking the forks up then loading...
Also seems like your mezzanine size is similar size as a 4 post lift, pick one up used for under a grand and it might even be cheaper than your building materials...

 

[theoldwizard1]

I would envision storing 5-6 snowmobiles, lawn mowers, and who knows what else up there. I would venture to say that I should plan for 5000# worth of load.

Can I use ledger boards on the gable end and along the back (eave) side and then drop posts into the #3 compacted road mix[/] for the spans? What about post spacing? What kind of material for the ledgers, joists, and posts?

IMHO, NO an HELL NO !
With the kind of load you are taking about, you need a full "foundation". Either a solid concrete pier down to the frost line, or a hole with a concrete "cookie" (6" thick with rebar, poured and set for at least 48 hours) at the bottom and back filled with compact road mixed.

Build it like you were building a second floor on a house and you would never put that kind of weight on a ledger board. Most fasteners would not hold that kind of weight. especially since you only have two connection points to the exiting posts. Double check with your local lumber yard will have span table.

You will need 4 posts, 2 at the gable end and 2 at the end of the span. The posts should be 4x6 PT and the cross beams (front to rear) should be tripled 2x10. Use joist hanger to attach the joists or, better yet, place the joist on top of the cross beams.

My table says, using #2 SYP, you can span 12' with 2x8 spaced 16" O.C. or 2x10 spaced 24" O.C.

I have a miniature version of what you are planing. You are correct, in making sure you have adequate height BELOW for storing items. I can not stand on my mezzanine, but is has a lot of storage. I added a shelf about 18" below the top plate on the back wall. Great for seldom used small items.

 

[theoldwizard1]

i went with pallet racking. Made multipurpose pallets, held sleds in the summer, mower deck, and small riding mower in the winter. Adjustble to fit the need as interest change over the years.

Good solution !

You can probably get away with digging a hole 2-3' deep, adding gravel, compacting and then a pier block on top for the pallet rack feet. If these "foundations" sink, they can easily be adjusted by jacking up the rack, removing the pier block and adding more gravel.

 

[Dyno Dan]

Was planning on 42” holes with concrete cookie for the posts.....I just wasn’t planning on as many posts. My intent was to use a ledger board across the back and 2 posts out on the front side (assuming the 12x22 platform, not the L shape version). In the end it sounds like I need to put posts in the back and the front from what I can gather.

I like the pallet rack idea, but would need to get them leveled up on some piers sitting on compacted gravel, as mentioned. I would also probably have to travel a little ways to find suitable racks.

 

[BukitCase]

Don't want a center post in front? I'd guess about a 12x5 (steel) I beam, but ask an engineer... Steve

 

[Dyno Dan]

My fault. 3 posts in the back and 3 in the front, roughly spaced at 10’ o/c.