2 Ceilings (sort of)? Safe to remove lower one?

[JohnnyK81]

Hi guys, Pictures to come when I drag myself out there again!

House was built in 1965. The garage, which is 24' across, has a very lower 7ish foot ceiling (Looks like drywall/sheet, with quickset spread over it??).

What is interesting though is that ceiling is nailed to 2x4's, which are attached about 3' down from the top of the walls.

At the TOP of the walls, there are 2x6's spanning the 24' distance, and in the center, they are resting (Since they are actually 12' boards) on a large beam (Probably 4 2x10 nailed together). But these 2x6's are probably approximately 48" from beam to beam.

I have added some more 2x6 spans since I need them inbetween the (approx) 48" span to hang the door tracks and openers from (I am now hanging the tracks and openers from the higher 2x6, since I plan to remove the 2x4 and the lower ceiling to make way for a lift).

hard to follow, I know, I will snag some pictures. Just hard to see in the pictures because I cannot stand back far enough to get the whole picture!

Anyways, to summarize there is a 7' ceiling made from 2x4, attached to the side of the studs (From what I can see) about 3' down from the top of the wall. On the TOP of the walls, there are 2x6's, with a large beam underneath them in the center running perpendicular, but only every 48" approximately. I plan to add a few more (although not every 16") and remove the lower ceiling. Unfortunately, I am an engineer, but the wrong type of engineer for this shenanigans!

Thanks guys, pictures coming up!

 

[JohnnyK81]

Here are some pics. The first is obviously from inside the garage. I suspect the PO added the bracing and posts in the center of the room, because I believe it was her who had the OSB on top of the ceiling added. But I do NOT think that she added the actual ceiling. Just made it so she could walk around up there and store things.

You can also see the roof ties above.



The second is the same general location, but standing on the first ceiling.

The third is where I have added some more of the joists. Lighter color wood.

The last picture is the original spacing of the joists. Which I am not comfortable with, but wonder if it is actually sufficient. In the previous picture you can see where I added joists to every rafter. For the rest (for instance, in this picture) I only plan on adding a span to one of the rafters.. So I will have a few larger gaps up there. But I want to hang a suspended ceiling, so I need something to attach it to!

Anyways, thoughts?

Greatly appreciated! Thanks!

 

[JohnnyK81]

Little bump for those in the know about construction.

Thanks!

 

[evildky]

Looks like someone simply framed their own "drop ceiling" I'd remove it.

 

[Git]

I am not an 'expert' and the pics aren't the best - but it looks like they were trying to make a storage area and didn't care about the ceiling height in the garage.

I see collar ties on the roof trusses and that beam runs in the same direction which would also help keep the roof from spreading out - so those are your main structural components. Everything else could probably go....

If you wanted to clean it up - I would add 'joists' so that they were 16" on center for drywall and then you could just wrap the beam with drywall and that would be the only thing hanging down

 

[JohnnyK81]

Thanks for the replies!

Well there are already joists running perpendicular to the collar ties and the large beam. But they are at a 48" width. I have added some (tied into the rafters so 18" on center it seems) but if I could avoid it, will not do 18" for the whole garage. I was going to leave some, just add enough to support the dropped ceiling (I will do that later) and the garage door tracks and openers.

But from what I can see, it's not adding anything structural?

Thanks again guys!

 

[Richard Cranium]

depending on what you put up there later (ie 5/8 sheet rock) will mandate what your spacing will be to keep it from sagging.

 

[JohnnyK81]

Sorry I should have specified. Just a standard ceiling tile style drop ceiling with fiberglass insulation on top. Nothing over the top. Just want to get the ceiling height to 10' (I may be slightly less than 10 foot depending on how dropped the ceiling tiles have to be).

I have heard 4" minimum in order to get the tiles in there, but I wonder if that is only for rigid tiles? The only tiles I have experience with are the 'office' style that seem to be about 1/2" yellow 'foam' that can be bent and crammed into the space.