DIY guru's / builders advice please - creating a storage 'mezzanine' level in my garage...

[HalifaxSeagull]

Totally OT...

I've recently moved house and have a 2 car width garage with a 1 and a 1/2 height ceiling. I'm considering creating a mezzanine level to store fairly light items up off the floor - kids toys, boxes of clothes etc.

What's the best way of doing it? The wall either side are breeze block. Do injust get some wall brackets, bolt them in well and get 3 or 4 evenly spaced long pieces of timber and clamp them in? Or will I need to put some sort of support up from the garage floor up the beem as they cross? Is there a maximum length of beam that you can have without an upright support?

Any other ideas / hints etc welcome!

 

[Lord Bracknell]

You could cut out all the building work and just pile up a load of junk from floor level, up to roof level.

It's how I manage my garage space and has worked well for years. The only downside is the problem of finding anything.

 

[HalifaxSeagull]

Cheers, that's already starting to happen!!

 

[Billy the Fish]

Just bang a few nails into some plywood, I'm sure it'll be fine

 

[beorhthelm]

You could cut out all the building work and just pile up a load of junk from floor level, up to roof level.

i believe this is the reference model for solving the problem of garage storage. Shelves or old drawers/cupboards can be implemented if an advanced garage user/hoarder.

 

[grubbyhands]

OR, have a new 7.5 X 4.0 metre garage built and fill it full of sh*t like I've done. Still, saved me having to find anywhere to store the £12000 it cost me eh?

 

[sydney]

how wide is yer garage...?

 

[Lord Bracknell]

i believe this is the reference model for solving the problem of garage storage. Shelves or old drawers/cupboards can be implemented if an advanced garage user/hoarder.

I've even added a shipping container to the storage facilities at Bracknell Towers. Parked next to the garage, it's a real boon. Next step may be a bit of a sort out, but that will require a skip.

 

[Rowdey]

If it was mine, (and bear in mind it might have to take your weight as you move stuff about) then either 4x2 tannelised timber (or 6x2) horizontally bolted around the walls, with matching timber making your joists across. Use Jiffy hangers to join these to the new wall beams. Space at 450mm centers, with noggins to brace out the joists.
I'd be temped to get 4x2 timber to vertically support the end's of the horizontals, mainly 'cos i'm a big lump.

 

[HalifaxSeagull]

Hi All, thanks for the tips.

A lad at work has just done something similar and has given me loads of joist hangers for free (I'm his boss so it came with an annual leave request at the same time - which was of course granted!)

The width of the garage is 5.2 metres.

I've been told for light storage (which it will be) I should be fine with some C16 treated 4x2 timber (or 6x2) for heavier stuff fixed in a vertical plain.

Then some 8x4 sheets of cheapish timber and Robert will be my uncle!

Will I need masonry bolts (self tapping) for drilling into breeze blocks or will I be ok with heavy duty screws with raw plugs?

Thanks again, Jim.

 

[Moshe Gariani]

reassuring that 4x2 is involved - you can start on the new tube station next...

 

[£1.99]

You could try something like this! I'm rubbish at DIY but managed to make this storage space which I gotta say I'm really proud of

 

[banjo]

Totally OT...

I've recently moved house and have a 2 car width garage with a 1 and a 1/2 height ceiling. I'm considering creating a mezzanine level to store fairly light items up off the floor - kids toys, boxes of clothes etc.

What's the best way of doing it? The wall either side are breeze block. Do injust get some wall brackets, bolt them in well and get 3 or 4 evenly spaced long pieces of timber and clamp them in? Or will I need to put some sort of support up from the garage floor up the beem as they cross? Is there a maximum length of beam that you can have without an upright support? View attachment 44309

Any other ideas / hints etc welcome!

http://www.doityourself.com/stry/how-to-build-a-garage-storage-loft

 

[Rowdey]

Hi All, thanks for the tips.

A lad at work has just done something similar and has given me loads of joist hangers for free (I'm his boss so it came with an annual leave request at the same time - which was of course granted!)

The width of the garage is 5.2 metres.

I've been told for light storage (which it will be) I should be fine with some C16 treated 4x2 timber (or 6x2) for heavier stuff fixed in a vertical plain.

Then some 8x4 sheets of cheapish timber and Robert will be my uncle!

Will I need masonry bolts (self tapping) for drilling into breeze blocks or will I be ok with heavy duty screws with raw plugs?

Thanks again, Jim.

Wow..5.2 meter joist run - you might struggle to find timber that will cover that in one run; mostly it's 4.8m in a timber yard.

Strictly Light storage only, then 6x2 or 8x2 overlapped (not sure how much mind, but say 2m) ideally using coach bolts and washers.

For fixing the horizontal wall runs, not so sure as carrying a fair bit of weight now with just the timber, but expansion bolts would fit the bill. Definatley get a couple of vertical runs in under the horizontal wall runs too.

Timber - i'd use 18mm WBP ply, but the cheaper shuttering ply would do too.


If it was anything other than light storage, i see (well, Googling it..) that for a 17' run, you'd need 12x2 joists for that length unsupported run..

(All advice given is theoretical, and you should seek professional advice on site before proceeding..)