Mezzanine

[3Dsigns]

Finally got around to building this thing and I'm close to being finished. It's 50' long x 13'5'' wide and the decking is 8'6'' off the floor. The joists are supported by a 2x6 stud wall at one end and 5.25'' x 9.5'' x 14' LVL beams at the other; except at one end, over the new paint shop, I built beam out of two 2x10x16's and three layers of 3/4'' plywood, glued up with waterproof glue, to go over a 6' and an 8' span.. My only concern at this point is getting some plywood on the support walls, for bracing and the other concern is the posts. Are 6x6's enough? If not I could nail on a couple of 2x6's to the side of each one. Also, I plan to make some "T" shaped plates to go where the beam rests on the posts. I will make those out of 1/8'' steel on my plasma cutter. What do you think?

 

[Forgottonia]

I'm no structural engineer, but it looks plenty sturdy to me. Those 6x6s would hold up a house!

 

[u2slow]

Looks stout to me!

Curious why all the joist hangers for a mezzanine? Is it a bad idea to place joists on top of beams/ledgers instead?

 

[kbs2244]

over built

 

[3Dsigns]

Looks stout to me!

Curious why all the joist hangers for a mezzanine? Is it a bad idea to place joists on top of beams/ledgers instead?

Thanks!
I originally intended to build it that way, but would have had to sacrifice headroom. I would have had to raise the floor 9.5'' or lower the beam 9.5''.

 

[3Dsigns]

I also made a little cantilever to mount an old spiral stair. I will be welding 6.5'' to the bottom of the pole/base to raise it up a bit. This section of mezzanine added 700 sq ft to the shop. And if/when lumber prices drop down to reasonable levels, I will add another mezzanine to the other side of the shop for a total of 1200 extra sq ft, connect them together, then add a safety rail.

 

[The Tool Tyrant]

Very nice work...you're hired!

 

[HaiKarate]

over built

Maybe he plans on storing forklifts upstairs

 

[Augus7us]

Nice, looks overbuilt to me. Just how I like to do it

I really like the staircase. I built a similar mez and ended up putting a set of attic stairs in the small compressor room. Your method is permanent but has a small foot print, very nice.

 

[The Tool Tyrant]

WARNING: Do NOT attempt to climb or descend staircase following alcohol consumption!

 

[3Dsigns]

Finally got around to building the other floor, joined the two together with 36'' 2x10's and laid 1''x 36'' grating on that. it will allow the upstairs fan to circulate any potentially dead air from the bottom floor. I also placed 16''x16'' grating every 4' at the outside walls. Now I need a hand rail. I started one but am not sure I'm doing it right. Any ideas on how to build a wood one which is safe?

 

[dcg9381]

WARNING: Do NOT attempt to climb or descend staircase following alcohol consumption!

That and other things are what the pole is for. OP, you're installing a pole, right?

 

[3Dsigns]

That and other things are what the pole is for. OP, you're installing a pole, right?

A pole for the handrail?

 

[The Tool Tyrant]

Personally, I'd be leery of using 2x4 verticals unless they were spaced 24" or so apart. This would be a 'guardrail' rather than a "handrail". I'd prefer using steel verticals (1x3) with wood horizontals, attached to the verticals with bolts and wing nuts to allow easy removal for hoisting awkward objects up & down.

 

[RivennHewn]

Doesn’t seem overbuilt at all to me.

I’m fact, I think it could benefit from some shear panels.



Some of you may find this interesting.

Around here, the engineering trend is to not have the mezzanine attached to the building.
A 4” seismic gap is required between the main structure and the mezzanine.

Mezzanine is an independent structure..

See note 4 in the first pic

 

[3Dsigns]

Personally, I'd be leery of using 2x4 verticals unless they were spaced 24" or so apart. This would be a 'guardrail' rather than a "handrail". I'd prefer using steel verticals (1x3) with wood horizontals, attached to the verticals with bolts and wing nuts to allow easy removal for hoisting awkward objects up & down.

1x3 rectangular tubing? say, 1/8'' wall thickness? 3/16''?

 

[The Tool Tyrant]

Yes, 1/8" wall will work fine. I'd use four 5/16Ø machine bolts with a standard washer under the head to attach the 1X3 to the rim joist. Drill your holes 5/8" in from the vertical outside edges rather than at the centerline. I'd feel comfortable at 60" o/c spacing. Bolt a 2x4 (on edge) at the top of the guardrail, with a 2x4 cap (flat) on top screwed or nailed into it which will add rigidity and cover the open top of the 1X3 tubes.
You could then add a 2x6 horizontal @ mid span and one @ the bottom (to catch rolling objects.

 

[The Tool Tyrant]

I changed (corrected) my mind 3D, use 1X4 X .125" wall instead of 1X3. I had a brain fart...I was thinking 1X4 but wrote 1X3 instead.