Steel ceiling question

[Calhouncm]

I’m working my way towards putting a ceiling up in the garage. I have a 36x48 pole barn, trusses are spaced 4’ apart. I’m getting close to purchased the steel. The way the trusses are pointed the steel panels will be going the 48’ length. I haven’t looked at exact lengths of what I will need, but looking for a recommendation on if I’m better off to get lengths allowing two steel panels to make it the 48’ length or would getting three different panels be easier to setup?

Also how much of an overlap should I have on each?

Thanks


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[racecougar]

Even if you go with three panels per 48' length, it'll still be somewhat challenging to put up (assuming you're working alone).

It's been a few years, but I overlapped my ceiling panels 6" if I remember correctly.

 

[Ron_J]

I did 16' panels in my 30x48 (running the 48' direction). Not sure I'd want to wrestle ones much longer.

I was told 3 or 4 inch overlap was sufficient.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Got help putting them up ? Got a drywall lift ? Genie lift ?


That would make my decision or help make it.


I think I overlapped the house garage ceiling about 3"



FWIW, the main cost of the panel is the overall length. Price checking special order from Meanrd's, adding a few inches (3-4") added about a $1/sheet or less.

 

[loganb]

It'll be easier to go 3 sheets for that if you're hanging it solo. If you're hanging it with 2 people and 2 lifts, it'd be feasible to do as 2 pieces. The livestock buildings we had growing up were tin roofs that we'd have to re-do every 10 or 15 years and I think those were 26' long sheets and we did as single piece but had gravity helping us hold them in place vs trying to pull them down!

 

[Zaxxn]

I did 15' panels, overlapping 3'. Wife and I and the scissor lift. Put a couple brackets on the outside of the scissor lift to lift panels up with us. Wasn't the most fun and pleasant job, but it went quick and painless.

--Zax

 

[rburke65]

With a drywall lift it’s pr3tty painless, especially if you have competent help. With the help of a tape measure, one should be able to figure out the lengths, Whether it’s going to be 16’3” 16’6” or whatever. Hopefully all your trusses are set exactly where they should be

 

[Calhouncm]

Thanks all. I will have a helper or two when I go to put it up. I plan to rent a one of the scissor lifts for a week or two and pack a lot into that time to get done.


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[383]

I have installed several metal ceilings, and try to stay around 16' on panel length. Two scaffold bucks are 14' long, this works great because you don't put fasteners in the last four feet. The next sheet will be fastened through the end of the last one.

2" lap is fine.

 

[finn]

I found it easier to run 1x4s across the bottom truss members and then run the steel sheeting 90 degrees to the trusses, ie, the short dimension.

Only two panels across, and they were shorter and easier to handle.

 

[MushCreek]

Even if you go with three panels per 48' length, it'll still be somewhat challenging to put up (assuming you're working alone).

It's been a few years, but I overlapped my ceiling panels 6" if I remember correctly.

A picture is worth a thousand words. It looks like you put up some temporary helpers mounted to your scaffold to hold the sheets up? That helps me a lot in trying to visualize how to do my shop single-handed.

 

[racecougar]

A picture is worth a thousand words. It looks like you put up some temporary helpers mounted to your scaffold to hold the sheets up? That helps me a lot in trying to visualize how to do my shop single-handed.

Yep. I work alone, so I often have to come up with stand-ins for a set of helping hands. I put up the first 7 sheets without any means of lifting them or holding them in place, and that was an absolute bear. After that, I picked up the drywall hoist to get the panels near the ceiling and built the two temporary dead men on the scaffold out of scraps of lumber to hold the panels just below the joists. That was the ticket. The remaining 53 sheets went up much easier.

 

[ddurrett896]

Buy a used drywall lift for $100, place your panels then sell the lift for $100. A drywall lift makes 16’ a breeze.

Recommend a set of scaffolding on each side of the lift.

 

[racecougar]

Be sure to get a hoist that will reach your ceiling height if you're using it to place the panels all the way up at the trusses. The lower-end hoists only go to 11' or so. See my photo above, for example. With the hoist all the way up, the panel was still 18" away from the ceiling.

 

[glennm]

Mine are a bit over 20’ for a 40 ft garage. If you can, get them to roll the steel upside down and then you can use the backside exposed, this gives you a nice flat ceiling, looks better and is much better for hanging lights, etc

 

[MushCreek]

I use my engine hoist to lift panels. I made a fixture so I could use it for drywall. With racecougar's idea of deadmen on the scaffold, I can get it up there with the hoist, then slide 'em one at a time on to the deadman for finally placement. I have a motorized drive for my scaffold that uses a cordless drill so you can move it around from up top.