Question about Storage above floor

[chinaclipper]

I just finished my 10'x14' shed/work area. I asked for the "gambrell" roof so I can utilize the area to store some items above.

An unrelated thread here got me to thinking....Am I going to be "overloading"?
I planned on putting some items on some 1/2" plywood "floor" in the space created by the gambrell roof.

Do I need to brace the trusses some way?
I hope the picture helps with the dialogue.

 

[cdestuck]

By looking at the 2 x 4 crossmembers after laying down the plywood I would not put real heavy items up there. Perhaps bulky items would do best up there. But for peace of mind you could always double up the 2 x 4's, sister and two together to gain extra weight capacity.

 

[sublime68charger]

I would think your fine. what are you storing up there?

here a pic of my upper storage area in my yard barn.

I keep the 2 ATV snow plow blades up there during the summer month's. along with some MISC stuff.

 

[zxttfan]

It's easier to sister the joists now in the event you want to use the space for heavier items in the future. The extra time and cost to do it now is negligible.

 

[moparfreak]

From the picture it looks like those are 2x4 on 24" spacing. Without thinking much I'd guess you're going to be well under what is advisable....

Although a lot more than this does go into the full calculation, a quick survey shows that for a load of 30 lb/ft^2, which is probably a decent ballpark for an attic used for storing stuff, even 2x6 doesn't quite get you to the 10' spans you have there at 24" spacing.

Sistering a 2x4 would double your ability to resist deflection but still not provide cross-section in the direction that you want to counteract the bending force. a single 2x6 is 4X as strong as a single 2x4 with that kind of load applied in that direction. Do you plan to store a lot of heavy things up there? If you do, Maybe some support ties back towards the top would be helpful?

(Ref: http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/floor-joists-span-d_1479.html for very approximate span load guidelines).

That being said, having the plywood installed to space out the load will help, and as long as you don't put any heavy concentrated loads at one point might be alright. If you can jump up and grab onto one of those 2x4s and do a pull-up and feel confident that it's not wavering or bending / deflecting too much then that's a good start.

Thanks,
Adam

 

[chinaclipper]

I thought about some space for some bins, some 2x4 misc lumber, decorations, stuff like that. Nothing MAJOR heavy or concentrated.

Thanks everybody. Good ideas all!

 

[nicksL98]

Toss up some 1/2" ply and go to town. Mine shed is 12'deep but the "attic" is split Into a 4' shelf at the front and the back. Works great!

 

[jaker10]

I did the same thing with my shed but used 2x6's I asked at the lumber yard and they said it may not pass code but your not going to put a refrigerator up there. It works fine with the things I have up there.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I thought about some space for some bins, some 2x4 misc lumber, decorations, stuff like that. Nothing MAJOR heavy or concentrated.

Thanks everybody. Good ideas all!

2x4 misc lumber ? Are you talking just short pieces ? Do you have some access on the ends on the building ?