Garage attic storage help.

[vamil]

Just bought a house with 2 car attached garage. Garage is finished. There is a small access hole (2'x2') in the ceiling. I took a look and there are 2x4 trusses in the attic area. I had a couple of questions.

1. Would it be ok to install an attic ladder. It looks like there is space to install one parallel to the trusses. Is the weight ok?

2. Related to above, can I put down some OSB and use the space for light storage (Christmas decorations, clothes, empty boxes). Nothing heavy.

Thanks in advance.

 

[csp]

Yes and yes.

As long as you don't exceed the load ratings of the trusses you're fine. Most light storage isn't going to create a problem.

 

[rlitman]

My thoughts would be no and no. The bottom chord of the trusses are usually designed to be able to support a ceiling, and possibly the weight of insulation. That's all.

 

[RCStocker]

I put a stell I beam across my garage just where the center of the truss comes together. I put in 2-6 ceiling joist and nailed them to the truss. I tapered the end so they would fit on the ledge. I have it loadeded and I use the I beam for a chain hoist. I was going to dry wall the celing when I did the wall bu desided I wanted the storage space instead. I have all my hard woods stacked up there. I have huge tubes with all kinds of long handled things in them. I have all my cenent long handles up there The thing is loaded form front to back. I even have small pieces of furniture sotored up there until I can get to them.

You can use a wood beam. Just make sure your trusses run at a 90 degree angle to the beam. Don't go crazy like I have. I engineered mine for the weight. I knew the BS degree in Architecture would come in handy some day. LOL

 

[BD1]

Here, I did a search,http://www.doityourself.com/stry/how-to-create-attic-storage-above-your-garage

http://garages.about.com/od/atticstorageideas/a/AtticAssess.htm

http://garages.about.com/od/atticstorageideas/bb/BuyAtticLadder.htm

 

[LSU]

Can't comment on the ability of your attic floor joists to support what you have but . . .

I have a two car carport which had an unfloored attic. The floor joist were strong enough to allow me to floor the attic and store stuff up there. Off hand I don't remember how wide the floor joists are but they looked like sub flooring.

I had a friend who is a civil engineer and another one who is a contractor look at the set up and both assured me it would be fine. 20 years later they're still right.

Couple of things - if you go with an attic stair case - look at the new Werner Aluminum ones. I had to replace an old wooden one and I really liked these.

Before I put one thing in the attic (because I figured once I put something up there I'd never stop):

1. I wired it for overhead electrical lights. I put a switch at the top of the attic stairs so I could turn the lights on w/o looking for a pull string;

2. I floored the attic with some inexpensive plywood. OSB wasn't that big back then so I think I used 1/2" plywood. I initially put it down with a finishing nail gun and then came back and screwed it down.

3. On the sides of the attic where the roof sloped, I built in some shelves using 2x4's and some plywood. I did this specfically for the zillions of storage boxes my wife has of Christmas decorations. This I did after I "lost" a box of Christmas decorations in the attic and she went out and bought replacment stuff before I found it. We now have two Christmas trees in our house each year. I'd recommend this type of storage if you have seasonal items you want to be able to readily find.

4. One last trick I learned. I made a small shelf (out of the way) where I keep a roll of packing tape, small retractable razor knife and a sharpie to mark stuff with. Not sure where this idea came from but I use it a whole lot when I'm up there.

 

[ScaldedDog]

What LSU said. He's right about the newer Werner aluminum ladders. I love the new one, but the slightly older one I bought the year before is awful.

Mark

 

[Flip37]

RCStocker, do you have any pics? This is what I was thinking of doing in my garage. What did you do on the ends to support the i-beam. If columns were used, did you put in footers?