Mezzanine Advice

[tojoski]

I'm planning on building a 4' deep x approximately 44' wide mezzanine on the back wall of my 30 x 50 shop.

The back will set directly on the framed wall as you see partially framed, but the front will have to be supported by posts every so often. I plan on having a 30"d x 36" tall workbench for the majority of that back wall so the posts would probably sit flush with the front of the workbench.

I don't plan on storing anything super heavy up there but it would be nice to be able to walk around, albeit hunched over a bit.

The main question I have is what timber should I use for the framing of the mezzanine floor? I had originally just thought I would use 2x6's or double 2x6s, then it occurred to me that I might need less support poles with bigger timber, 2x8s or 2x10s.. at least for the front support.

The eve in that picture is approximately 13' and the top of that 2x4 wall is 8'3". My goal there was to give atleast 8' under the mezzzanine as not to feel cramped when working at the bench.

Thanks in advance for the input, and pay no mind to the clamps, I'm trying to pull the warp out of the lumber.

 

[firebirdparts]

The 4’ direction a 2x 6 is fine. The beam is going to depend on post spacing. This beam ought to be on those posts leaving a 18 inch cantilever. That is going to create a headroom problem at the bench edge, so you are going to have to get a little fancy.

 

[no704]

Just use pallet racks.

 

[haveissues]

+1 on the pallet rack. You can even use them for the workbenches.

 

[billconner]

We're it me, I'd look at 1 1/8 ply spanning from a ledger on the wall (or just on that 8' wall plate) and a beam. For beam, I'd look at an up-turned lvl. One post or maybe two. Maybe, with two and 15' spans, you could get away with a single 2x12 with a 2x2 ledger to support ply. Thin, maximum head room, and pretty standard building. But then I like wood.