Above garage storage - DIY advice req'd !

peterwynne

We have a high ceiling in our garage, we'd like to construct a storage area above for odds and ends - the things that mean we can't park a car in our garage

I was reckoning on using heavy duty bolts into the concrete block walls - through 100mm wooden brackets, the length of each wall. Then use large timbers across the 275cm span.

This sound ok?

dad-of-4

be much easier to use joist hangers. i dont think they are too dear and would be the proper way to do it i expect. unless im missunderstanding your intentions.

peterwynne

Something like this ?
The size is 275cm wide - then 300cm deep. What sort of size timber would I need for the span, and how many should I need for the 300cm length?
Thanks for your help!

jennifernil

Can you estimate the weight of what you want to store on this structure?

peterwynne

I'm bad at estimating weight.. the heaviest things would be a couple of boxes of books.. across the whole structure - 150kgs at the most. Very roughly.

jennifernil

150kg total is nothing!

Hang on, OH is structural engineer, he has his pencil out!

Could take a few minutes yet!

maninthestreet

I have something like that in my garage, put up by one of the DPOs. Would be ok if one of the joists hadn't snapped, and been repaired by nailing a flimsy piece of wood across the join to hold it all together.

jennifernil

Hi,

OH suggests you use 6 joists in dressed redwood size 7" x 2" spaced 60cm apart. These need to be braced apart either end and in the middle to make them stable. Cover with chipboard flooring.

For support you could use 4" x 2" timbers fixed to the walls with rawlbolts such as item 44397 from Screwfix. Use at least 1 below each joist position.

Or you could use joist hangers, which would mean the bracing was only required in the middle. You would need to drill them to take at least 4 rawlbolts minimum size M6.

peterwynne

spot on, thank you very very much!

Saved me a head ache

peterwynne

the rawbolts, I've never used them before. How do they expand in the wall?

Mr_Warren_2

Drill to recommended size, hammer rawbolts in hole ......they are stuck !!!