Above Garage Door Storage

[Porcupine]

Hi Guys,

Rather than hanging anything from my 2x4 rafters which are spaced 24 inches apart, I want to build a shelf above my garage door to take advantage of the free space there.

Looking at how a neighbour of mine did his (our garages are 10x20, he simply screwed a 2x4 across the wall studs on each wall just above the garage door tracks. He then ran 2x4's across from one side of the garage above the door to the other side, and each 2x4 sit on top of the 2x4's on the wall. He then put plywood sheeting on top for his shelf. He keeps a bunch of totes of seasonal stuff up there and it really gets everything off the floor of his garage.

The question I have is, is this a "good" way of doing it? I.e. will the system be strong enough to hold a few sheets of extra plywood and 2x4's (extra stuff leftover from odd jobs), and totes and stuff?

His garage is not finished on the inside so the 2x4's overlap the ones that are attached to the walls.

Just looking for advice on how to build a shelf that will be supported by the wall studs and not the rafters for above the garage door.

Thank you in advance!

 

[kbs2244]

I have a finished ceiling and some lights positioned above where the door is when open.
So I cannot put anything there.
But above the torsion springs I have a pair of the “L” shaped ladder racks fastened into the header that hold spare long skinny stuff like EMT, pipe, wood trim, etc.

 

[Porcupine]

kbs2244, good idea, but I am more leaning towards building a big shelf supported by three walls (two side and front wall) that will hold equivalent of two full sheets of plywood as a shelf, and that way I can move a bunch of clutter and other things off the floor of my garage, taking advantage of the area I have above the door. I just want to make something that will be structually sound and safe.

 

[70redbee]

If this is free spanding, I would use like a 2x6 or 2x8 to give it more strength. 2x4's screwed to the wall is fine.

 

[39 chevy]

I have done this and it works great, BUT make sure in the middle leave a space approx 4, 5ft then you can reach everything when you put your ladder up there (both sides).

 

[LeonardY]

I have three over the garage door storage locations. Since a picture is worth a thousand words. Here's what I did.

Hope this helps.

 

[Porcupine]

Thank you all for your responses,

Once I get the garage cleaned out, I will build that overhead storage area above the garage door.

Note, I double checked with my neighbour and he has 2x3's supporting the 2x4's, and he has no issues at all and he does store his winter tires up there.

Thanks again GarageJournal!

 

[Plump]

Yep, all the linear wood goes above the garage door on one side and my makeshift painting booth made with conduit is on the other side. Just made the wood storage out of scrap 2x4. One of the best ways to keep the garage free from junk on the floor that I've done. Highly recommended.