Build Storage In A Garage Ceiling

Your garage may have plenty of available unused space

If your garage has a high ceiling, you can build an extra storage space within the ceiling area. You will essentially build a second "lower" ceiling that you can access from a ladder and store objects on top of. The exact details such as dimensions, load and needed support will depend on your specific garage. Consulting with a structural engineer or other expert will help you determine how much of a load the garage ceiling can bear plus how much support is needed to hold your storage area in place.

Instructions

1. Measure the dimensions of your garage ceiling using measuring tape or other measuring tools. This should include the proposed length and width of the area--the garage's full length and half width or vice versa is good--plus the height of the garage from floor to ceiling.

2. Determine the minimum height your storage space floor will need to still give you and your cars/other objects clearance. Subtract this from the garage's total height--this will give you the length/height your steel irons need to be.

3. Cut the 2-by-6 boards and nail them together to form a rectangular frame that will form the floor of your storage space. You need two boards equal to the storage space's proposed length and two for the width.

4. Add rows of joists to the floor, cutting more boards that will fit into the frame parallel to the floor's short sides and nailing them to the frame.

5. Nail the surface of the floor to the top of the frame using a sheet of half-inch thick plywood cut to the length and width of the floor's frame.

6. Raise the floor to the measured height of the storage space with the help of one or more assistants and screw it in on one long side to the garage wall using a power drill.

7. Bolt the steel corner irons to each corner of the frame and to support beams in the ceiling using a ladder and through bolts with your drill. Bolt the irons to the garage's sloped rafters instead of the horizontal roof trusses if possible--this gives better support.

8. Add more steel irons to the frame and roof beams if needed to fully support the frame.

Tags: storage space, length width, your storage, your storage space, ceiling using