Wall Shelving

[my68spit]

After seeing so many guys on GJ put shelving units above the garage door side rails, I have decided that's the direction i want to go with my garage storage.

Example:

(thanks Allinon72)

My question is how much weight can a shelf like that hold if you were to use 5" lag bolts? 1 or 2 bolts per stud @ 16" oc? It will mostly just hold empty coolers, kids toys, perhaps some spare lumber, etc.

any thoughts or advice would be appreciated.

 

[MScott]

I'm not an engineer, but I wouldn't expect you could hold much weight without either some triangular braces below or tying into the trusses above with something like threaded rod. The lag screws will hold the 2x4 or 2x6 to the wall, but the twisting force would probably tear the shelf apart without bracing. JMO

 

[f150skidoo]

With out any bracing i would guess 100 maybe 150 lbs. but if you were to do something similar to that picture i would put a couple of pieces going up and attaching the shelf to the rafters.

 

[HeelSpur]

You'll be surprized how strong those lag bolts are, unless you stack it to the ceiling with lead you'll be fine.

 

[Dale Leeds]

You could have run braces across to the TOP of the door track. It would not have interfered with the door opening up and it would have given you some more support. Or just run some supports up into the ceiling trusses for more support

 

[my68spit]

Thanks guys. I think i will try it just with the lag bolts first and see how much wiggle there is with light loads. If I need to, I will run a support up to the ceiling.

 

[Steevo]

Does the face of the shelf **** up against the side of the door track?
If so, you could run a lag bolt through the inside of the track near the back end, to support the left front corner of the shelf from the rear track hanger,which should be lagged into at least two joists above the sheet rock.

Even if you had to put a spacer block in between the track and the shelf and run a longer lag bolt, it would provide substantial support.

Oh, and one lag bolt per stud on the wall side is WAAAAY plenty.

 

[NorthernVA]

I would definitely use a threaded rod as mentioned above. At least at the corners.

 

[my68spit]

I was also thinking i could use a length of chain that i have had laying around in my garage for a couple years with no real purpose in sight. Couple of eye bolts, couple of threaded quick links, Boom. Done.