Storage Loft

[CatFieldTech]

Has anyone ever put in a storage loft in their shop? I am putting up a 30x60 pole barn with 14 ft walls. Is a loft even possible with that wall height?


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[gearhead1]

Why not. How tall are you? If you split the 14’ in half, that’s 7’ each level minus the joist height. Say you used 2x8 for joists, so 7’ minus 7-1/4” = 6’ 4-3/4”. If you’re shorter than that then why couldn’t you fully stand up at two levels.

 

[JamesW84]

Yes. Some people call it a mezzanine. You can find lots of them by searching. This is ultimately why I went to 18 ft walls instead of 16. Wanted 16' for 14' Doors. Wanted 14' ft doors to accommodate pretty much any road-legal vehicle (dump truck, semi, etc).

My mezzanine/loft is still a few years away. I figured I'd want 10' ceilings in the area below (work room), then 1' for framing, then I'd want more than 5 ft above, which is what I would have gotten with 10' + 1' and 16' walls.

 

[HotWire]

Mine is just a glorified shelf, but I’m glad I have it. I only have a 10ft ceiling.




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[Innovate1]

Mine is just a glorified shelf, but I’m glad I have it. I only have a 10ft ceiling.




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I am planning something very similar to this. 14' walls with a half bath and shop sink in the corner. Plan to put an 8' x 8' platform at about 8' which will give me 5' above (floor takes up a bit less than 1'). May lower the ceiling to 7' to get a bit more height above but it really is just for storage so I don't think the height above is an issue. I am a just over 6' and 7' ceiling feels cramped. Thinking I might compromise and go to 7'6" ceiling.

Was thinking of making my outer walls scant 14' and making the inner walls 14' (stub foundation is 8" above floor). If I kept the outer walls at full 14' that would allow a 7'6" lower height and 6'6" above which would be comfortable and if I ever want to put in more mezzanine would be much more usable.

 

[larry_g]

See my build (link below) and you can see how I did it.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[iSpark]

I'll be building a 32x56x10 with scissor trusses.
With rooms on one side, (enclosed work area, closet, and a bathroom) with 8' ceilings.
This will give me about 7' at the center of garage above those rooms and slopes down to 10' walls. The plan is to use that space above for storage.

Kinda like what larry g did, but I want have walls above, it will be open with railing and stairs like he made.

 

[CatFieldTech]

Why not. How tall are you? If you split the 14’ in half, that’s 7’ each level minus the joist height. Say you used 2x8 for joists, so 7’ minus 7-1/4” = 6’ 4-3/4”. If you’re shorter than that then why couldn’t you fully stand up at two levels.

I’m 6’1” so that would work great for me. It would be nice to have extra storage off the floor, or just a nice area to put a couch and a beer fridge too. A lot of the floor space will be taken up by my old tractors and my pickup, and maybe a lift at some point in time.


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[CJseven]

I have one in my shop, it’s 12’x30’ with permanent stairs.

 

[southalabama]

CJseven question

What you have running the 30’?? Lvl?

 

[CJseven]

It’s a glulam beam.