Barn to Garage Conversion 30ft x 45ft

[swmillar]

Hi guys

I've been following the threads on GJ for a long time now, drawing inspiration and wisdom from the wide variety of impressive builds on here!

I thought I'd start share what I'm doing. It's early days but I'll share my ideas and welcome anything you guys have to suggest... As well as throwing in a few questions!

Where : Belfast, Northern Ireland
What : 30x45ft concrete/steel barn
Why : want a garage, workshop, man cave and gym
How : adding a mezzanine floor over 30x30ft, leaving enough ceiling height for a bay with a 2 post car lift. Mezzanine floor will be enclosed in stud walls to make gym/man cave and have some storage space

Question 1 - garage floor is a solid 6 inch slab, but I think it needs grinding to get it flat so I can epoxy coat. Thoughts? Attached a picture

Question 2 - to put in mezzanine without having supporting columns is going to require a 30ft steel I beam... If I go of the 1/20 ratio rule it's going to be a massive chunk of steel. Wondering if any of you guys have experience of this and what profile of beam will suffice?

Also attached some 'before' pics and some of progress to date...

I'll keep this updated over the coming months with progress

 

[swmillar]

Forgot to attach a few 3D models I've been tinkering with...

 

[swazzie]

so, i'm confused I believe. Is this going to be a loft to put your gym equipment in, on a second floor?The reason I ask is that it looks as though, in your artist renderings , that you are just partitioning off the end of the barn.

 

[madoc1]

nice space to start with. love the midget as i used to have one the same color.

jim

 

[madoc1]

nice space to start with. love the midget/sprite as i used to have one the same color.

jim

 

[swmillar]

Hi swazzie

Yes, there'll be a 2nd floor for 2/3 of the garage, leaving a full height bay for the 2 post lift

Steven

 

[Bib Overalls]

Have you considered engineered steel trusses? Lighter than "I" beams and less deflection. They are usually two or three times as deep as an "I" beam which eats up headroom but with a little creativity you might be able to make them work.

I built a 30' x 8' storage mezzanine over my mill, lathe, and loo. Wanted a clear span but grudgingly accepted one post. I brought power to the post and have my drill press and vertical band saw clustered around it. Worked out nice but then I am not pushing MG Midgets around on roller skates.