My small Garage

[lowceiling]

Hi Everyone,

I have a few questions in regards to my home garage that I would like to know more about, and I thought I might ask here first, since everyone is an expert

This is my single garage, its size is appox 17ft long and 11ft wide, and the height is where I am kinda confused. Its an old garage, I dont exactly know how old but I would say maybe 60years? (sounds too old or too young?)

I have attached some pictures to clarify my question.

The height of the ceiling (its an "A" roof), has a possibly of it being 8ft tall, IF the cross 2x4 beams were removed. If I had removed these, would the roof collapse?

I guess I wanted to know first if its just extra support or will the roof stand up without it? Because that distance from the top of the real ceiling versus that cross support beam is about 1.5FT or 2FT I think (i forgot to measure).

Here are the pictures (sorry if its too big)

Im planning on putting scissor lift or a maxjax if my flooring can handle it.

Thank you in advance for any replies, I really appreciate it!! and yes, i will clean it up eventually! hahaha

Regards,
Malcolm

 

[littletoes]

HELL YES THOSE ARE STRUCTURAL!

Those are the bottom of your roof joists/trusses, you take 'em out, and get any snow in the winter, or just decide to climb up there for any reason, and the entire thing might come down.

You might be able to talk to an engineer to see what can be done.

 

[lowceiling]

Dang...well there goes my plan! hahaha, boo!!

How about talking to a carpenter? would they know??

 

[littletoes]

Sure, some of them carpenters that have been around, know there stuff as well as an engineer, just be careful who you pick, and get a second opinion from a reputable contractor.

Do you have any friends that do that kind of work, to start with?

 

[usmc_noma]

As said those are structural. They're cross ties for your roof joists. It appears you have cross ties further up on the joists but I'd suspect the one's you're pointing to are the original.

You may be able to move some up and reinforce the cross ties further up the roof joists but I am by no means a structural engineer. IIRC there was another member here who had a similar situation who raised his ceiling by a few feet. I can't remember his name but the thread was fairly substantial.

 

[wuck]

Yep, the roof will fall down right after it flattens itself in the middle and pushes the walls over. A couple of options:

1) Raise the cross ties, as suggested. I'd recommend a designer or engineer rather than a carpenter, especially considering snow loads. Put them as low as possible for best strength.

2) Convert the rafters into scissor trusses, could be pretty simple - but again, need a designer/engineer. You won't get as much ceiling space.

3) Use a big beam to support the roof load lengthwise. Probably some heavy duty work.

Pat

 

[lowceiling]

I have a friend who is a carpenter, no friends who are designers or engineers..

Hmmm, sounding like an expensive project haha..

Thanks again for the replies!! much apprreciated!!

Ill see what I can do with that cross beam..

 

[99_xc600]

Those can not be removed. They are responsible for holding the roof together at the intersection of the top plates.

Think of it this way. If you were to take a triangle and move the bottom piece and you were to push down on the point of the triangle. What would happen?

Naturally the triangle would collapse. Your roof is the same way, they are there to prevent the roof collapsing in a heavy snow load or other loading conditions.

You could move them up a bit to sit higher on the ceiling rafters, but you can not move them out entirely. What you see up top up by the ridge board are collar ties. They do serve the same purpose however then don't offer enough strength on their own.

If you were to move the ceiling joist up. Your best bet would to double them up on both sides to add additional strength along with the collar ties.

 

[lowceiling]

Hmm...good point! Thanks again!

Well, I might talk to someone first before I think of doing anything. Dont want the roof to collapse on me! hahaha....

Thanks again for all the advice!! much appreciated.

 

[DrkMtnDew]

guess if you had the means to do so you could raise the walls instead of the roof. that would entail lifting the building and pouring a small foundation then setting the building back down. but you could gain a lot of overhead space. just a thought.

 

[Zeke]

A good solution to your problem is a scissors lift you mentioned and for 2 reasons. One, the height you don't have; two, the width you don't have. 11' isn't much for a post style lift. You will be ducking and weaving all of the time and probably could not park a car in there with the lift (won't be able to open doors).

Installing the lift flush to the floor would be nice.

 

[lowceiling]

Hi,

Thanks again for the replies.

I think milt is right...a scissor lift is the best for the size I have, it will give me the room on the sides since there is no post.

But what kind of scissor? hehe..

I am kinda narrowing it down to two types the Bendpak Model: MD6XP or the Ever-eternal EE-MR30.

http://www.babco.ca/core/media/media.nl?id=39418&c=404828&h=355bb6a3db678328258f

http://www.ever-eternal.com/UploadProductPic/20101130112411714.jpg

any opinions? hehe

thanks

 

[lowceiling]

oh..btw, leaning towards Bendpak since better known brand name, plus I can get it within a week or even less! VERSUS Ever-eternal (few months).

Price wise, Bendpak cost more tho...around $2500CDN, versus EE is $2000CDN.

 

[Kevro]

I had the same exact conundrum. I called a structural engineer, he came out and looked at my roof and drew up a plan for me, which involved sistering all the roof rafters, installing new collar ties two feet above the old ceiling, and then removing the ceiling joists. It ended up being easier than I expected, and only cost about $400 in lumber and nails, plus a couple hours of the engineer's time for the site visit and stamped drawing. Worth every penny and every trip up and down the ladder.

 

[lowceiling]

hmmmm....interesting! hehe.

thanks!