Mezzanine build

[raf0419]

Not sure how many are interested in my mezzanine build, but I figure why not share.
I'm fortunate in that I have a large shop, but it's far too easy to waste space when you have the room. Essentially I needed to make room for a new car project. I wanted a place to keep large parts and body panels out of the way. At the same time I found myself doing more wood working than I've done in quite some time. I'm tired of getting dust all over my auto working space. So I decided I a Mezzanine was in order. It needed two things.
1. Vertical storage
2. Ability to be closed off and contain whatever dust my dust collection system can't contain. Feel free to substitute shop vac wherever you see dust collection system.

 

[raf0419]

I started this a couple weekends ago hoping it will go to plan. Picked up a few supplies. It was raining so I parked them in the shop.

The mezzanine will go in the far corner where the blue compressor stands (behind the yellow Cuda). Plan is to make inappropriately 14'x18' with stairs going parallel to the long walk.

Now I know this isn't a true mezzanine because I'm building a room below, but mezzanine sounds way cooler than "room with storage above!"

I suspect the 65 'Cuda will spark some questions. It belongs to a buddy. We've been helping with a little cleanup and an AC compressor install.

Now Back on topic.

 

[ADSR]

nice! in for this build for sure!!! Just don't break that back window in the cuda!

 

[930dreamer]

Cool, how big is your shop? A friend added a "loft" to my 30x40 building, still needs a set of stairs to be useful.


Edit: stars on your flag should be on the left.

 

[raf0419]

Got busy framing. I decided to first frame the 2nd floor joists and allow them to guide wall stud placement.

After much staring I decided to frame the floor system as two sections to make it easy to place rather than framing the floor as a single unit. Oh and here is where I introduce my first error as one section is 1/2" longer than the other. Go figure.

 

[raf0419]

Laying out top and bottom plates for 2nd long wall. First wall on floor in distance.

I should mention the lumber selection pulled by the folks at my local home labyrinth was suspect at best. I nailed stuff I would normally have returned thinking, "hey it's just my shop!" Pretty sure this is where error 2 was introduced.

 

[raf0419]

Looks like I only took one image of my wall frames.

 

[raf0419]

Quick image of compressor wiring so I don't forget.

Image of conduit electrical drops being removed.

 

[raf0419]

Putting the 'Cuda owner to work drilling floor anchors. Pretty sure I had a beer in hand at this point.

 

[raf0419]

Final Test for walls checking for square and plumb etc. and marked floor to guide placement.

Random image of floor anchor taken out of frustration. This concrete was a bear to drill!

Ok so this is where my 1/2" error comes into play. Even though I labeled my walls to the center double stud I proceeded to install the floor joists incorrectly.

I mean look at this! I squared and braced each floor then rigged them for install. I was so excited this rigging worked that I reversed my floor install.

Installed this floor first before putting up end wall to install second half of floor.

 

[ADSR]

Who's Swaggy.jazzy?

 

[raf0419]

No clue! That random image snuck in. It was an image shack mixup. Crazy!

 

[ADSR]

No clue! That random image snuck in. It was an image shack mixup. Crazy!

lol, big ***** tho

 

[raf0419]

Placed first floor system incorrectly and CONFIDENTLY installed the end wall before placing the second floor system.

Everything in place and DANG IT!

 

[raf0419]

So at this point confusion enters the game. This is where I discover I made one floor 1/2" wider than the other. But even still I was scratching my head trying to understand why it was off because I laid out the bottom and top plates using the floor joists as a guide. After 30min of staring I grabbed lunch.

 

[raf0419]

Went back and found the error was in the order of my placement. Of course at this point I have now secured the end wall and even though I haven't secured the floor system I was stumped trying to figure out how to move around the floor systems without taking the end wall off.

 

[hedhunter9]

Looking good..
Heres mine and what I put up there..

 

[raf0419]

Sorry I didn't take pics from here out. I was too pissed at myself to think straight. Now I'm working alone here. After some tractor work to remove both floor frames and two failed attempts to safely replace the correct first frame with either the tractor or my come-along, my brother in law showed up. He had a good idea to push the floor from the bottom using 2x4 studs. So simple and it worked brilliantly. Of course just having help was huge. [emoji123]

 

[raf0419]

Looking good..

Heres mine and what I put up there..

Very nice! What are you using for your winch?

 

[raf0419]

In the end I got it all corrected, but it took much longer than it needed to.

I went to nail down my floor joists and my 7y.o. HF 6 in 1 framing nailer broke. It's a simple fix, but it was Super Bowl Sunday and I was "done" with all of it. I'll update next weekend after I get more time to work on it.

 

[raf0419]

Cool, how big is your shop? A friend added a "loft" to my 30x40 building, still needs a set of stairs to be useful.





Edit: stars on your flag should be on the left.

My shop is 50x75. Left side is the exact location of where my stairs will go. For me the stair location kinda dictated the room location.

 

[raf0419]

Oh and thanks for the flag tip!

 

[raf0419]

Between kids activities and work, little progress this weekend.
Image of corrected floor layout.

I finally got to use this old piece of angle iron I've had lying around for like 8y. These will be used to secure wooden walls to the exoskeleton.

Did a little sheathing. I really wanted a better look and I'm hoping paint will help, but I couldn't justify extra expense at this time.

Putting little helpers to work attaching brackets.

Installed a little flooring... Sorry no final image just yet.

And the interior as it stands.

 

[ADSR]

looks good!

 

[raf0419]

Thanks! We're getting there. Still need to layout stair stringers and landing. Also need to make the railing for both the mezzanine and the stairs. Part of the motivation behind this project was to get my woodworking stuff organized in one place. The other part was to create some vertical storage. I'm due to pick up a new to me project car next weekend. The car in pieces and I was planning to store parts up there. Minor problem considering I'm working out of town this week!

 

[raf0419]

So the room has quite the echo. I should have expected it. Ideas for sound absorption?

 

[raf0419]

Lighting ideas? I'm trying to avoid having anything hanging down since the ceiling is only 8'. I picked up six 6" cans with LED inserts. I can easily return them pending another approach. Any thoughts on the cans with an 8' ceiling?

 

[sean Buick 76]

Keep up the good work, i like it!

 

[Zebedeewesty]

Nice work.
How much do you reckon you've spent on timber? Its really expensive in the UK with an 8ft 2x4 costing $8 or so.

 

[raf0419]

I estimate for this portion my timber spend has been about $950-1000. My total spend is right at $1300 for materials and supplies which includes extra material for about three rows of 2' deep x 6' high shelving. The shocker was the darn masonry bits. My concrete was ridiculously tough to penetrate and I wore out three bit!

 

[raf0419]

On this side of the pond a 2x4x93 wall stud is only about $3. They frequently go for less. Add maybe 10% for a true 8 footer

 

[Cummins01]

very nice! I'm diggin' the old Econoline!

 

[blacksporty]

I am ignorant when it comes to building but I have 2 questions;

1. Why drill for all those anchors instead of just using a stud gun?

2. Why bolt the frame to the outside walls and have possible places for leaks, it should be more than strong enough without that?

 

[raf0419]

1. Why drill for all those anchors instead of just using a stud gun?



2. Why bolt the frame to the outside walls and have possible places for leaks, it should be more than strong enough without that?

Good questions.
Anchor vs stud gun? I simply didn't feel like driving to rent the equipment. We were done drilling in less time than it would have taken to drive to the rental shop. If I had more to do I would have gone the stud gun route.

Wall anchors - The wall anchors fasten to a piece of channel iron which has the channel facing upward. So the wall anchors do not penetrate the exterior wall. They only penetrate the interior wall that I was too lazy to take down.

Though I have framing experience I'm not an engineer and I'm not sure exactly how many wall anchors were needed. I just knew the two walls facing the exterior would not have sheathing to keep them square and resist horizontal movement. I also did not want to place braces on the room side of the wall. Fastening to the interior aspect of the exterior walls with wall angle iron braces was a simple solution and it successfully eliminated all appreciable movement.

 

[Bib Overalls]

lol, big ***** tho

Where ?

 

[MFortie]

Looks nice.

I have 40'x60' I've thought about doing the same thing with. I'd love to be able to put a pool table up top but have no clue if it would be structurally sound enough.

Few questions:
How tall are your building walls?
How thick is your slab?
Couldn't you have sheathed the inside of the walls facing the steel exterior walls?

Thanks,

Mark

 

[raf0419]

Looks nice.

Few questions:
How tall are your building walls?
How thick is your slab?
Couldn't you have sheathed the inside of the walls facing the steel exterior walls?

Thanks,

Mark

Thanks Mark. I'll need to double check when I return home tomorrow, but my exterior walls are about 13'. The building was there when we moved and I've never measured the full slab depth, but I know its more than 6". Yes I could have sheathed the inside walls. I like the idea of building recessed mini shelves so I wanted interior stud walls. Of course the echo is making me rethink that. Plus I had the angle iron and just needed fasteners so it was a cheap fix for me.

I plan to eventually convert that upper space into a proper man cave with TV, seating and minibar. Pool table is a possibility as well.

To determine if your design will hold your pool table, just plug in your numbers to a load span table. This will tell you how to design your floor joist system in order to support the pool table.

http://www.awc.org/calculators/span/calc/timbercalcstyle.asp



I say go for it!

 

[raf0419]

Where ?

Sorry I deleted the image. It was an image shack error... Maybe I should have left it for others to enjoy! Lol

 

[raf0419]

very nice! I'm diggin' the old Econoline!

Thanks. That's a project I plan to continue once I get everything reorganized and cleaned.

 

[raf0419]

All I did on the space this weekend was hook my compressor back up and tie in one of the 110v receptacles. Of course I took no photos....