DIY "loft"

[MackMan]

I have some pretty high ceilings in my garage, perfect for the lift, but just wasted space over the non-lift side of the garage. At 5'6" tall I don't need much headroom and was thinking about building myself a storage loft over a portion of the non-lift side.

Has anyone else done this sort of thing? I'm thinking something that can be done with basic lumber, no metalwork. Tips on what works well, what doesn't, etc?

Thanks!

 

[Zeke]

You should try for a min of 7' of headroom in spite of your personal height. It's easier to move longer objects, easier to illuminate, even ventilate. And that's code.

Your main concern will be the way you support the open side or the side that projects out over part of the garage. Use a beam chart to size your beam according to length and live (storage) load. You can use a post if it helps and is not in the way.

 

[930dreamer]

A friend built this in my shop in trade for shop use.

 

[Ray916MN]

I used pallet racking to achieve the equivalent of a loft.

 

[MackMan]

You should try for a min of 7' of headroom in spite of your personal height. It's easier to move longer objects, easier to illuminate, even ventilate. And that's code.

Your main concern will be the way you support the open side or the side that projects out over part of the garage. Use a beam chart to size your beam according to length and live (storage) load. You can use a post if it helps and is not in the way.

I need to actually measure the height. This is the only picture I can find that shows the full interior height. Those are 10' high doors, so it seems like I may be able to get pretty close to 7' over and under such a loft. Could posibly remove a section of the false ceiling if need be.

 

[MackMan]

I used pallet racking to achieve the equivalent of a loft.

Racking is something I'd like to do as well, but it still takes up some precious floor-space. I have lots of spare parts for the race car that are good to have, but not things that need to be accessed with any frequency.

 

[Zeke]

Well, as I said, span and support are the first concerns. I did a giggle for "loft span and support" and there are lots of hits.

 

[skyking]

I used pallet racking to achieve the equivalent of a loft.

Ok , how did you get the bikes on the top shelf ????

 

[bshusted]

I built a storage loft in my garage. This is one place where my single has the advantage. The span is relatively short at only 12'. I used 2x6 lagged into the studs at each end and across the back.

 

[Ray916MN]

Ok , how did you get the bikes on the top shelf ????

Decked 4 post lift with a ramp on the other side of the racking.

 

[MillerMav]

I have 13' ceilings in my 2 car and I often sit and think of a way to build a loft up there. Being that I am only 5'7" or so I could put the loft at 7' from bottom to floor and still have room to walk around. The real issue is; how do I get up there. I don't want stairs eating up even more floor space and drop stairs would be a PITA.

I am still working on it mentally and have came up with about 3 different designs. I may just go with large cabinets about 18-20" deep instead of a loft. That depth spanning 20' could hold A LOT of stuff.

Good luck; I will be keeping an eye on this thread for sure.

 

[usmc_noma]

I have 13' ceilings in my 2 car and I often sit and think of a way to build a loft up there. Being that I am only 5'7" or so I could put the loft at 7' from bottom to floor and still have room to walk around. The real issue is; how do I get up there. I don't want stairs eating up even more floor space and drop stairs would be a PITA.

I am still working on it mentally and have came up with about 3 different designs. I may just go with large cabinets about 18-20" deep instead of a loft. That depth spanning 20' could hold A LOT of stuff.

Good luck; I will be keeping an eye on this thread for sure.

I would do the loft spanning the entire garage with a post in the middle. As a way to get up there, I would use the attic type stairs that drop down placed just off center. This way you have access to both sides of the loft and could minimize the area the stairs took up. This again depends on the depth of your loft as well. If you want to get heavy things up there, I'd use a pulley or one of the motorized lifts that attach to a track on the ceiling. The name escapes me, but I've seen a post where someone used the HF version and was happy.

 

[wilkrod]

I have 12' walls and put in a 8' X 8' loft in the back corner over one of my work benches, I use it to store stuff I have no immediate need for , so I just use a ladder to get up there.

I find it very useful, glad I did it.

Regards
Jeff

 

[nolimits76]

Good idea about 7' minimum height. Depending on location/size of the loft, I'd prefer 8' minimum.

That being said, previous owner left this for me in the garage. The loft isn't very high. To give you an idea, I have a side by side fridge in between the 2 vertical 2x4's. There's just a few inches clearance from top of fridge to bottom of horizontal 2x4. Which works fine in this particular situation, but if I had to walk under it I would hit my head and cuss.

If you have an idea on loads you need to support this calculator might be helpful (one for wood and the other for connections):
http://www.awc.org/calculators/index.php

 

[dledinger]

I built one last fall. 6X20, if I recall. The celing over the worspace is 86", and I have 32" over the top of it. I used a ledger board on the back wall with joist hangars, and the front sits on a doubled 2x6 beam with three posts. Drywalled the whole thing.

 

[dledinger]

The "loft" was helpful, but after a couple months I decided to add another small storage building anyway. Waiting for the weather to clear up so I can knock out the siding.

 

[schor]

Here's my loft.

And a small loft over the man door.

 

[nolimits76]

The "loft" was helpful, but after a couple months I decided to add another small storage building anyway. Waiting for the weather to clear up so I can knock out the siding.

This is what I need to do. Hopefully this summer if things go smooth. Need a place to store the riding mower and lawn tools. Plus wife is starting a small garden and I want her to have a space of her own for her garden tools.

Did you buy a kit? Just curious -- what size and maybe a rough overall price (minus labor, of course)?

 

[dledinger]

No kit. I went 12x12 due to permit requirements. The walls are 97 1/2. Its decked with pressure treated plywood on top of pressure treated 2x6 floor joists, which are sitting on two 4x6 beams supported by 6 - 8x36" concrete columns. Span between the beams is 8'9"...stretching it for 2x6 joists but I had to make height requirements and still have a useable attic. The roof is 2x6 rafters on 16" centers with a 6 in 12 pitch and rafter ties every other one. 38" steel door and 3 vinyl windows. 14" overhang all around. Sided and shingled to match the house. Total about $3200.

 

[schor]

I have a loft.
It's a pain in the *** to get a ladder and balance a fender(insert whatever will try to kill you, here)on your hip trying to get it down.

I think I'm going to like those crank up platforms that I'm not remembering the name of.

4x8' or so, they are on a pulley system and you use a handrill to raise/lower them.
They're priced so low I can't build them for half again....

Here's my loft.

I can put things on the fridge, step from a chair onto a file cabinet and then ontop of the cubby hold cabinet then ontop of the fridge and up to the loft. No ladder required and ample space on the fridge to place things before venturing up or down.