Garage remodel

[BeachBum2012]

Hey folks,

New guy here. I'm devoting this spring (and probably most of the summer) to remodeling my favorite place at home.

To start with I have an old detached 20' x 18' garage that is completely unfinished. Open framing on the walls and open all of the way to the rafters. There are only two 2x4 joists going the width of the garage and one 2x4 going the length of the garage. I'm not sure what the heck they're for considering there isn't enough there to support anything. There is a line that has been run to the garage that powers the one light and the one outlet and that's it for electricity.

The idea here is to frame in an attic for storage, add in a sub-panel and run power throughout and finish the walls and ceiling. My biggest question is about how to frame in the attic. Any thoughts on what lumber to use? I was thinking 2x8s on a 16" center. If I remember right that meets the span tables. Any thoughts?

Its dark out now and my one dinky light won't make for the best photos so I'll try to get some up tomorrow.

This will be my biggest DIY project to date so I'm glad I found this place. Any help or advice from you fine folks would be great.

Thanks,

Brian

 

[35mastr]

I framed mine all in at 7 foot.Put in one of those drop down ladders.

Left a larger hole at the door that goes into the kitchen so I could put larger boxes if need be.

I did mine in 2x6 but having a sag problem 5 years later.The lumber was also pretty wet when I did it from the store. Mine was 20x21 with a 12 foot to the peak.

I am going to put in a steel beam in the center and frame off of that when I redo it.That way the runs will only be 10 foot in either direction and not 20.

But you will be suprized how much storage space you will gain with it.I also put in a 8 foot light up there so you can see what you are doing.

 

[35mastr]

Also if you go with the drop down ladder route.Put the ladder in the front of the garage facing the oppisite way the the cars are parked. I made the mistake of putting mine in the center and have to move the cars out evertime I need to get up there.

That is one of the biggest reasons that I am going to redo it. Its also 94 inches and not 7 ft. I just went out and measured it. Thats plenty of room for me as far as height goes in the garage.

 

[BeachBum2012]

I framed mine all in at 7 foot.Put in one of those drop down ladders.

Left a larger hole at the door that goes into the kitchen so I could put larger boxes if need be.

I did mine in 2x6 but having a sag problem 5 years later.The lumber was also pretty wet when I did it from the store. Mine was 20x21 with a 12 foot to the peak.

I am going to put in a steel beam in the center and frame off of that when I redo it.That way the runs will only be 10 foot in either direction and not 20.

But you will be suprized how much storage space you will gain with it.I also put in a 8 foot light up there so you can see what you are doing.

The way I was thinking of doing it would put the ceiling at about 7'9" or so. I planned a drop ladder and a hoist for heavy stuff.

How did you go about hanging the joists? I was thinking of notching the 2x8s to fit over the top plate and using joist hangers for extra support. Think that'll work?

 

[BeachBum2012]

Also if you go with the drop down ladder route.Put the ladder in the front of the garage facing the oppisite way the the cars are parked. I made the mistake of putting mine in the center and have to move the cars out evertime I need to get up there.

That is one of the biggest reasons that I am going to redo it. Its also 94 inches and not 7 ft. I just went out and measured it. Thats plenty of room for me as far as height goes in the garage.

I want to put the drop ladder along the back wall. I'll have one car in the garage at most (I don't own one, I ride a Harley) and I've got the height and room in the center back there.

 

[BeachBum2012]

Ok, I got bored and snapped a few pics with my phone.

<a href="http://s71.photobucket.com/albums/i123/BrianHaber/Garage/?action=view&current=G1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i123/BrianHaber/Garage/G1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s71.photobucket.com/albums/i123/BrianHaber/Garage/?action=view&current=G2.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i123/BrianHaber/Garage/G2.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s71.photobucket.com/albums/i123/BrianHaber/Garage/?action=view&current=G2.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i123/BrianHaber/Garage/G2.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s71.photobucket.com/albums/i123/BrianHaber/Garage/?action=view&current=G4.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i123/BrianHaber/Garage/G4.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

 

[BeachBum2012]

<a href="http://s71.photobucket.com/albums/i123/BrianHaber/Garage/?action=view&current=G5.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i123/BrianHaber/Garage/G5.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s71.photobucket.com/albums/i123/BrianHaber/Garage/?action=view&current=G6.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i123/BrianHaber/Garage/G6.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s71.photobucket.com/albums/i123/BrianHaber/Garage/?action=view&current=G7.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i123/BrianHaber/Garage/G7.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s71.photobucket.com/albums/i123/BrianHaber/Garage/?action=view&current=G8.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i123/BrianHaber/Garage/G8.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

I'll be happy to see most of the junk go to my dad's next week. It'll be nice to have the space back.

 

[BeachBum2012]

I could still use a little advice on this one. Anyone out there have any thoughts or ideas?

 

[rickairmedic]

I woud go with 2X6 or 2X8's and mitre the ends so they fit up flush against the roof . I would think if you notched them to sit on the plate it would weaken them quite a bit so I would mitre them so they sit on the plate. That should keep most of the strength in them .

Rick

 

[BeachBum2012]

I woud go with 2X6 or 2X8's and mitre the ends so they fit up flush against the roof . I would think if you notched them to sit on the plate it would weaken them quite a bit so I would mitre them so they sit on the plate. That should keep most of the strength in them .

Rick

That would raise my ceiling though right? There's already not much room up there and I don't need the height in the garage space because the tallest thing I'll be working on it my Harley.

I was thinking of using something like this

only it would be notched over the top plate. Think that would work?

I just want to make sure that I'll be able to put some weight up there.

 

[nadogail]

Drop down stairs are neat, I am glad I bought one for a garage I own. That $80 investment pays off every time I do not have to bring in a stepladder to get to the attic of my garage.

I have lights in the attic controled by a switch below. I used OSB for the attic floor. Painted the OSB white on the underside befor installing to give me a white ceiling for the garage.

Lighting is controlled by a bank of switches next to the man door, the car door control is next to the man door. Added a toilet to the detached garage in a closet built in a corner, a cheap stainless kitchen sink in a home depot cabinet with a tiny undersink water heater are my creature comfort indulgences.

The sidewalls look like they might be strong enough to add an attic.

enjoy the anticipation of a nice garage

 

[rickairmedic]

I would say Joist hangers like that would work but I would put a 2X6 or 2X8 whichever you decide to use as your joists around the parimeter of the garage so the hangers get a good bite and plent of fasteners .


Rick

 

[BeachBum2012]

I would say Joist hangers like that would work but I would put a 2X6 or 2X8 whichever you decide to use as your joists around the parimeter of the garage so the hangers get a good bite and plent of fasteners .


Rick

Looks like this is the route I'm going to take. I'll need 2x8s to cover the span. So how do I go about attaching the perimeter? Lags? Nails?