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PSF of ceiling joists

Vickki70

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Aug 28, 2014
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Hello everybody. I built a wood structure 20' w x 86' l x 8' h using 2" x 4", I then made a storage space on top of the ceiling using 2" x 6" with a span of 20
ft. I need to know the total weight allowed on the whole roof as well PSF? please help.
 
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bczygan

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DETROIT! Arsenal of Scrappers
Zero.

In fact, you need to get under there and hold it up right now with your hands as it's going to fall down in just a second!

Not enough information.

Are these ceiling joists or roof rafters for a flat roof?

Are you asking if the roof will support the required loads for your area, or are you asking how much weight a storage area above the ceiling will support?

What is the spacing of the 2x6's?

What are the 2x6's made of:

Is the ceiling going to be insulated?

What is the ceiling material going to be?

What else is going to be hung from the structure?

All these questions need answers to find out what you need.

For example, using these ceiling joist and rafter tables, for a 30# live load and a 10# dead load, you would need 2x12's at 16" on center to support it if you wanted a drywall ceiling which requires a maximum deflection of 1/360th of the span. This is using Hem-fir with an E of 1.3

http://www.awc.org/pdf/STJR_2005.pdf

Live load is the weight you can put on in pounds per square foot, evenly distributed. Dead load is the weight of the structure, including the joists, decking, insulation, ceiling and anything suspended from the ceiling, like lights.

Even Hem-fir 2x6's at 12" on center, using l/180 (Which means you can't use a drywall ceiling) and based on a 20#/SF live load and a 10#/SF dead load will only span 14'9".

What you have will keep the walls from bowing out, but little else, based on typical materials. A stronger material, like Doug-fir will help some, but the real solution is deeper joists.

All this said, if you don't care about deflection, aren't putting in a drywall ceiling, just have a few lights, and are storing light things near the edges of the span (Closer to the walls), you will be OK.

If you are asking about the rafters, and their ability to support the required live and possibly snow loads for your area, then we need to know what those required load capabilities are. Where are you, and what are those loads?

Show us some photos
 
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BFBOB

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Sep 20, 2011
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Hello everybody. I built a wood structure 20' w x 86' l x 8' h using 2" x 4", I then made a storage space on top of the ceiling using 2" x 6" with a span of 20
ft. I need to know the total weight allowed on the whole roof as well PSF? please help.

Not nearly enough information. See the first post. In addition, is this a 20' clear span, or are there posts in the center? You say it's made of 2x4's - trusses or ?? A 2x4 20' long all by itself supported only at the ends would barely hold up its own weight. A 20' span truss made of 2x4's is another thing entirely. Pictures would help. (in your message, scroll down, click "go advanced" then "manage attachments". You can then add photos. Files must be small; 3 Mpix is about the limit for camera resolution.

Oh, yeah, and welcome to GJ!

I'm not an engineer; at best I've learned some of the right questions to ask engineers!
 
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Garage Flooring

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May 21, 2011
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Grand Junction, CO
If you go to a local lumber yard they have a chart for this type of thing. Especially if they sell trusses. Typically storage space actually requires a greater capacity than living space. Bottom line is you need to get some help quick.
 
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