Garage attic storage space, weight limits?

[psiturbo]

The past few days I have been organizing the terrible mess on my two car garage.

Its a one floor family style house, got plenty of space on the attic with an access ladder to it.

I got a few questions in regards how much stuff I can put in it.

This is my first house with an attic, How much weight can it hold? What other people have stored and have had no problems? or maybe the complete opposite, Any catastrophic experiences?

I have stored Xmas and Halloween decorations, a few things here and there, still have plenty of space to store but I am concerned it may collapse or something...!?

[monoxidechild]

i have over 1000 pounds in my attic. to the point im wondering exactly how much weight i can get in mine now. lol. were talking full interiors, half dozen motors, dozens of turbos, fully bumpers, dash's and so on. ask ryan, he's seen it. lol. you can fit a crap load up there in other words.

[worldhazard]

what kinda of rafters are up there? it all depends on the build of the roof to be honest. likely. on an average build, i would imagine being able to hold an entire mid sized sedan.

but once the floors start creeking up there... either stop, or spread everything out towards the borders

[psiturbo]

I will snap a few photos tomorrow, today I have to drive out of town.

Once I come back will post some pics.

[nos92mx3]

really depends on how its framed and what it is framed with (2x6, 2x8, 2x10 etc etc) also if there are any center supports and the length of which said 2x runs.

[chrmar]

Look at it this way:

How much crap, altogether, do you have on the main floor of your house? The average household is going to have a fridge, maybe a range (or a cooktop & wall oven), all your cabinets and everything that's in them, all your misc appliances, beds, tubs full of water, etc.

If your attic is built the same way as the main floor of your house, you can fit a lot of stuff up there. The only tricky part is going to be rigging up a hoist system to get engines up there, if that's what you're planning.

[Ace]

if youre going to put engines up there id be more than willing to store one for you. lol
but seriously just get some 1/2" plywood and nail it down up there and you can hold a good bit of weight.

[chrmar]

^Ya rly. If I can haul a complete F2 in the back of my Escort on a sheet of plywood, you can definitely store an engine in an attic on some.

[frogi323]

my dads a rigger. so he knows load caps on structers and a 1 typical garage rafter can handle 500lbs. so i figue dispursing the weight around it can hold 4000lbs. but thats my guess. have a inspector come out and look at it. or have someone that builds houses come out and look. i bet either of them could give you a good ball park #.

[monoxidechild]

in my garage, i have 1x6 planks nailed to the rafters, and coming down and nailed to the ceiling joists going right down the middle of the roof. it helps distribute weight a bit better. then i have particle board sheets covering the floor.



you can see the 1x6's i was talking about in this pic.





those are pics from over 7 years ago. its alot more organized now. with probably 4X the stuff. lol

[riverrunnernky]

This is a good thread...

my dads a rigger. so he knows load caps on structers and a 1 typical garage rafter can handle 500lbs. so i figue dispursing the weight around it can hold 4000lbs. but thats my guess. have a inspector come out and look at it. or have someone that builds houses come out and look. i bet either of them could give you a good ball park #.

the heavy stuff store close to the wall and to cieling/floor joists. The closer to the middle the weaker the ceiling is, and with out rigid steel reinforcement storing heavy materials is a bad idea. I store seasonal stuff.

And for safety.
Don't pull an engine from existing ceiling joists, it's best to reinforce the Ceiling joists with steel I beams from the floor up. Or build/weld a rolling I beam system to do the job.

[frogi323]

the heavy stuff store close to the wall and to cieling/floor joists. The closer to the middle the weaker the ceiling is, and with out rigid steel reinforcement storing heavy materials is a bad idea. I store seasonal stuff.

And for safety.
Don't pull an engine from existing ceiling joists, it's best to reinforce the Ceiling joists with steel I beams from the floor up. Or build/weld a rolling I beam system to do the job.

if i had the money i would rebuild my garage until then this works fine and is safe.

my dad has had a Harley hanging from one for 3 months. not 1 creek or crack.
it depends on the style of truss. i put a beam across the top of 4 of mine and i can suspend my car from it. but like i said get a contractor out to look at it and see what he thinks. thats the safest route.

btw i do rigging also. have for years. i just am more cautious then my dad.

[riverrunnernky]

"it depends on the style of truss"

if i had the money i would rebuild my garage until then this works fine and is safe.

my dad has had a Harley hanging from one for 3 months. not 1 creek or crack.
it depends on the style of truss. i put a beam across the top of 4 of mine and i can suspend my car from it. but like i said get a contractor out to look at it and see what he thinks. thats the safest route.

btw i do rigging also. have for years. i just am more cautious then my dad.

bet your eyeore it does! Mine is a steep a frame and no snow board reinforcement. So I do have to double my 2x10 floor cieling joists jut to store seasonal crap.

I wish we all lived closer so we could play in each others shops, have a beer and talk silly trash in the boys club... for real some of the best friend I have made anywhere are on this sight, and they let me live too! lol

[monoxidechild]

easily 90% of my friends are car related. hell, the 3 room mates ive ever had were all mazda owner's! my wedding party will probably have 1 non mazda related groomsman. lol.

[riverrunnernky]

I'll loan one ......

easily 90% of my friends are car related. hell, the 3 room mates ive ever had were all mazda owner's! my wedding party will probably have 1 non mazda related groomsman. lol.

of mine, let me know, some gas and a place to sleep food would be nice too, me and daughter low maintenance. Let me know asap. Illinois is not too far from Ky!