Structural flooring support

[John Wilson]

I have just moved into a new home with a double garage. The area past where the door opens (19ft x 10ft) has a 13ft high ceiling. I would like to construct a floor with an access stairway over this area for storage. It should be able to carry a load equal to normal household floors (whatever that is, I live in Ontario, Canada). One 19ft side must span the garage. The other three sides can be attached to load bearing walls or supported from the foundation. Is there a way to build this without a pole that is not cost prohibitive?

TIA, John.

[Mark L.]

Not in any particular order:

1) Architect/structural engineer 2) Local building dept 3) Get a quote from a contractor, and then just do it yourself.

(Although, I feel guilty if I do that).

I would assume (and remember this is Usenet and you d> I have just moved into a new home with a double garage. The area past where

[J. Clarke]

The obvious solution is to make either a truss or a box-beam on the side facing the garage. Actual details have to be worked out depending on code requirements--plan on doing a load test. Any engineering text used in an "introduction to structures" course should tell you how to design it--box beams and trusses aren't that hard--you can almost "common sense" them. For construction details (what kind of fasteners to use and how close to space them and whatnot to get the sheer and tensile strengths you need and how much force particular woods can support and whatnot) see

--you might want to buy a paper copy of it.

[GJP]

"John Wilson" wrote in news:rMxWc.12009$ [e-mail]:

John; Best visit your local Building Department..they will tell what is possible and what is not for free.(G) If they say it can be done, then you hire a Arch.Des./Architect/Engineer to design it...that will cost you money unless you know one of these types. In Ontario any additional structure in or attached to a residence requires a building permit...it also might effect your New Home Warrenty if you have just moved into a "new" home rather than a resale. Best be safe than sorry.(G)

GJP

[John Wilson]

Thanks for the input everyone, I must say I had not considered what may happen to the new home warranty, I shall check into that.

John.

John; Best visit your local Building Department..they will tell what is possible and what is not for free.(G) If they say it can be done, then you hire a Arch.Des./Architect/Engineer to design it...that will cost you money unless you know one of these types. In Ontario any additional structure in or attached to a residence requires a building permit...it also might effect your New Home Warrenty if you have just moved into a "new" home rather than a resale. Best be safe than sorry.(G)

GJP