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Metal Building Loft Design Ideas. 16' Eve's

RLoosarow

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Nov 27, 2012
Messages
19
Location
Cloudcroft, NM
I'm about 95% done with a 40x50 metal building from Mueller and would really like to start off by getting and keeping the junk I'll collected off of the shop floor. I'd prefer a loft or 2 since the eve's are 16' and most of the floor space will have a purpose. I would prefer pics vs description so I can borrow and tweak ideas to fit my needs.

Any help would be greatly appreciated...
 
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RLoosarow

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Nov 27, 2012
Messages
19
Location
Cloudcroft, NM
I'm not a fan or am I even remotely talented with lumber so I'd prefer using steel, I beam or square tube for posts but I'd rather attach to red iron in some way that is say and effective. I can't even find anything on Google searches. Might have to patent an idea if I ever come up with one...
 

Dave Maxwell

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Sep 21, 2011
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Kickapoo illinois
I have 42x72 and hope to be able to put up second story over everything except front 25feet for lift and stuff. Don't want any support beams in middle
 
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RLoosarow

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Nov 27, 2012
Messages
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Cloudcroft, NM
Wow that's huge. I'm just about done with the install of a Bendpak 2 post that is center and closer to the back wall. I plan on using 1/3 for Jeep restoration and the other for welding. I could have used another 10-20 feet of depth but I couldn't fit it on the pad I had made on the side of a mountain. Too much rock to go much bigger.
 
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RLoosarow

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Location
Cloudcroft, NM
If I was capable I would have built it myself because it took forever it seemed to get to this point. I'm still waiting on power from the local power company. Paying everybody up front doesn't speed up the process unfortunately. I'll take and post some pics tomorrow.
 

larry_g

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Apr 28, 2007
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oregon
If your built, mine is not to applicable but feel free to look below.

lg
no neat sig line
 
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RLoosarow

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Nov 27, 2012
Messages
19
Location
Cloudcroft, NM
Here are pics of the shop in its current state.
 

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Ray916MN

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Apr 15, 2012
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Location
Orono, MN
Hard to beat pallet racking for flexibility, ease of use and cost.

P1000629.jpg
 
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RLoosarow

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Nov 27, 2012
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Cloudcroft, NM
That's what I'm talking about but I haven't found any that are cheap. Northern Tools has some nice ones but by the time you complete a set they are expensive. I do like the idea best though. Thanks for the post Ray...
 

Ray916MN

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Orono, MN
I found a used pallet rack dealer on Craigslist. Outside of Craigslist, the keywords to find companies that sell new/used pallet racking (aside from "used pallet racking") is "material handling".
 

Chaz

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Apr 3, 2006
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806
Location
Missoula, MT
I built this inside mine. The lower shops hold my pedalcar collection , office, luchroom and john. The upper level is all storage. 16' walls
 

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ixlr8

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Sep 15, 2009
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441
Location
Eastern Shore Virginia
I have a 30x30 shop w 10' eves, I put an I beam down the center, held up by 4x4 steel posts at each end and bolted 2x8's on top. I put up a 2x4 wall against the outside wall to support floor joists. I used Sampson hangers attached to the 2x8 on top of the I beam to support the other end of the floor joists. So I have a 15x30 loft over 1/2 of my shop, the other 1/2 is open for a future lift.
 

W-Cummins

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Jan 9, 2006
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Location
Iowa
I have 42x72

Don't want any support beams in middle


Good luck with that one, 42' span is a long way. Either put posts in, or plan on very little load on the second floor. Also if you want only a few posts you will probably need to have the floor reinforced to support them.

I used walls to support my second floor. If I had used beams and posts, the posts would have punched through the floor, unless I used huge plates on the bottoms of them!

William.....
 
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cyamaha2007

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Apr 20, 2009
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St.Charles MO
I have 2 lighter duty tractor deck over trailer frames suspended in our farm shop. they clear span 40ft, so i have a 15x40 second level. Id estimate atleast 20000lbs on them. We paid 1000 bucks for the pair. Im very happy with the way it turned out.
 

carhunter

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Nov 8, 2010
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793
Location
southern Ohio
I've got 14' eaves and built a mezzanine that's 10'x54'.The flooring is 6' from the bottom truss chord which is a tad tight but it works.

Its built on 6x6 posts 8' OC, triple 2x12 header on top of posts, and 2x8 joists 16" OC. Covered with 3/4 plywood flooring. The backside of the joists rests on a 2x10 leger board lag screwed to the 6x6 main barn posts.

Pretty simple and it was the cheapest method I could find. Setting joists on the ledger avoids the expense of simpson hangers and if you work the spacing right every 6th joist can be bolted or nailed to the side of the wall post for greater stability.
 
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RLoosarow

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Nov 27, 2012
Messages
19
Location
Cloudcroft, NM
If I haven't mentioned it before I don't do wood unless I have to. Never have been too familiar with it and not a fan of it. Lots of great ideas though, I sure do appreciate it...
 
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RLoosarow

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Nov 27, 2012
Messages
19
Location
Cloudcroft, NM
I would definitely do the pallet rack setup for everything if they didn't cost so much to ship. I put together what I needed on Northern Tool and get to the end to find out the shipping is as much as the cost of the parts. Crazy...Waiting on a quote for used racks...
 

Charles (in GA)

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Jan 11, 2006
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50 mi south of Atlanta
There are many pallet rack and material handling suppliers who specialize in used stuff. If you go by and visit them, they usually can come up with some odd size stuff they are eager to get rid of for cheaper than the more "normal" sizes.

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I got this setup from a used material handling company. It was totally odd to them, as it was all they had, Interlake brand, (3ea) 14 ft uprights, and (24 ea) 8 ft beams. The odd part is the beams are "lightweight" and are open on the bottom. They won't hold as much, but they still are good for 1500 lbs a shelf. The inset lip for the decking is only about 1" deep rather than the usual 1-7/8", and they are 42" deep total depth, which again, is odd.

I decked it with various things. A couple of shelves have 2x6's cut to length (they stand proud of the top of the beams by a 1/4 inch or so), one shelf is done with scrap 5/4 deck board (perfect thickness), several shelves are done with 1' thick rough cut from pallets that were designed to handle 55 gal drums.

Gotta get creative.

Charles
 

DieselDent

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Sep 22, 2009
Messages
309
Location
Bushwood, MD
Built a sort of clean room and going to eventually go across the rest of the back with a floor, it's not finished yet but it has tongue and grove plywood on the top now and going to put the stairs in right up the middle. The building is 45x55 and the room takes about 1/4 of it. Excuse the mess it's a lot cleaner since getting a few projects out of there.
View media item 9267
 

CNGsaves

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Sep 26, 2012
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13,233
Location
KS and OK
If you already have well-built steel frame building, why not heavy steel I-beams across the span and if needed, add hanging attachments to the roof itself (to support load) so you don't have posts down in the lower section. I doubt you would mind having having some posts in the upper loft. Also, that heavy I-beam across garage would be great bridge crane with a move-able chain hoist for pulling engines/heavy loads all across width of shop.

Once you get the loft up there, plan a way to get stuff up there like a I-beam crane at the peak of roof near loft entrance.
 

creativecars

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Nov 15, 2010
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Indiana- where horse and buggies still roam
I understand you dont want anything on the floor and neither did I, but I did want a office, bathroom, guy space ect... So I built a 15x15 in the back of the shop and made sure it was stout enough to work as the middle support to a second story, using I-joist to the walls on each side. It could also be done with metal. Especially if you can get ahold of the used pallet racking.
 

sberry

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Jun 18, 2005
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Brethren, Michigan
I used mobile home frames, even the cross brace over to sheeting girt of building which I supported with additional posts.
 

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sberry

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I like the trailer frame idea, I was going to do mobile home one in my shop but ran out of material after doing shelves in the storage. Next frame I find its gonna happen. I dont need big, even 10X 30 or so would give a place to sit some more shelves and light stock.
 
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cyamaha2007

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Apr 20, 2009
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St.Charles MO
sberry i use mobile home frames for everything. My pallet racking looks much like yours. The trailers i used for my loft have a slight upward bow when empty. I have entire wrecked cars on them. I have to use the wheel loader to get them up there but man its great for floor space.
 
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RLoosarow

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Nov 27, 2012
Messages
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Cloudcroft, NM
Wow some of you guys take your steel serious. I like the idea of using the steel girts but not sure how much they can support but they are pretty heavy on the 50' side but probably half the ga. on the 40' gable sides. As far as I-beam columns and rafters they are spaced too far on the 50' side(front, middle and back). There are four on the 40' side where I plan on putting the mezzanine.

I actually started pricing steel to make the entire project and didn't get very far when I started seeing what the material was adding up to. There is where I go back to the pallet rack idea, cheaper and modular, no bolts or welding...
 

Dave Maxwell

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Sep 21, 2011
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865
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Kickapoo illinois
OK. Question. If I go with 10a foot off the wall with mexanine. 9 foot centers on wall beams. How big with the joist have to be to support parts like grads and intakes. I'm 230 alone. Probably make it 10x46 on one side and 10x31 on the other
 
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RLoosarow

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Nov 27, 2012
Messages
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Cloudcroft, NM
I sure do appreciate all the posts with great suggestions. What won out for me was the used pallet racks. I ordered enough used racks to cover a 30x12 area 8 ft tall with 2 sections at 16 ft for heavy shelving. I plan on using the lower front portion for work bench and equipment storage. I haven't gotten it yet but the guy that sold it to me wants pics when I get it all set up so he can sell the idea to potential buyers. I'll post some pics when I get the stuff. By the way I paid just under half going with used than I would have with new. Saved around $1000 on shipping somehow. Go figure. Thanks again...
 
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RLoosarow

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Nov 27, 2012
Messages
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Location
Cloudcroft, NM
Here is the setup I've assembled so far. Looks like it might be too close to the lift so I'm going to have to rethink the 3rd row. Any ideas on what type wood to use for the mezzanine flooring?
 

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cyamaha2007

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St.Charles MO
Do you have a sawmill near you? I used rough cut white oak. It was cheaper than lumber store pine and i think its stronger.
 
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