making an attic entrance

[hemi68charger]

Hey gang..
Well, I'm finally moved into my new dig and with it, my new 4-car garage......

I was wondering, are there any online reference drawings in creating an attic entrance where the garage joists are? The garage is 47 ft. deep and I'd like to make at least three entrances for future decking/storage. I'm also planning on strengthening up the ceiling be installing  1x6 connections between the adjacent joists in an attempt to gain rigidity...

Thanks,
Troy

[4402tuff4u]

Makesure the garage is not a "truss" framed structure. If it is, it will be kind of difficult to install. Achievable but storage might be an issue. This link might offer some insight.

http://www.doityourself.com/stry/atticladderroughopen

[PocketThunder]

You got some pics of what it looks like up there? 
Is the ceiling already finished?
Is it truss framed or rafters?

[Old Moparz]

Hey gang..
Well, I'm finally moved into my new dig and with it, my new 4-car garage......

I was wondering, are there any online reference drawings in creating an attic entrance where the garage joists are? The garage is 47 ft. deep and I'd like to make at least three entrances for future decking/storage. I'm also planning on strengthening up the ceiling be installing  1x6 connections between the adjacent joists in an attempt to gain rigidity...

Thanks,
Troy

Do you mean use 2"x 6" I hope?

Definitely find out if there are trusses or joists, but either way you can still create an opening.

[4402tuff4u]

Hey gang..
Well, I'm finally moved into my new dig and with it, my new 4-car garage......

I was wondering, are there any online reference drawings in creating an attic entrance where the garage joists are? The garage is 47 ft. deep and I'd like to make at least three entrances for future decking/storage. I'm also planning on strengthening up the ceiling be installing  1x6 connections between the adjacent joists in an attempt to gain rigidity...

Thanks,
Troy

Do you mean use 2"x 6" I hope?

Definitely find out if there are trusses or joists, but either way you can still create an opening.

I think he's placing down 1" (5/4 decking) planks perpendicular to the ceilling joists for his storage deck. Sounds like it's a standard roof rafter & roof joist construction.

[hemi68charger]

Hey gang..
Well, I'm finally moved into my new dig and with it, my new 4-car garage......

I was wondering, are there any online reference drawings in creating an attic entrance where the garage joists are? The garage is 47 ft. deep and I'd like to make at least three entrances for future decking/storage. I'm also planning on strengthening up the ceiling be installing  1x6 connections between the adjacent joists in an attempt to gain rigidity...

Thanks,
Troy

Do you mean use 2"x 6" I hope?

Definitely find out if there are trusses or joists, but either way you can still create an opening.

I think he's placing down 1" (5/4 decking) planks perpendicular to the ceilling joists for his storage deck. Sounds like it's a standard roof rafter & roof joist construction.

That's exactly what I'm doing... I wish to strengthen the ceiling for the capacity of storage, especially since the span on the 2x6 joists are 22".... I've been told that placing planks perpendicular to the main ceiling joists is actually stronger than "doubling" up the span joists.. The perpendicular planks prevent the ceiling joists from flexing, which ultimately causes sagging joists.... Because of this, I think the 1x6 planks are sufficient in prevention of movement.. I'll place planks evenly spaced in about 2 to 3 places along the 22" span.. Again, the length of the garage length-wise is 46".. I'd like to place 3 access openings.............

Troy

PS. I'll post pics later........

[hemi68charger]

This is what I'm working with.........

[BigBlockSam]

congrats on the new big garage. 

[tan top]

sounds like a good size garage . don't forget to make the attic entrance big enough to fit charger  fenders , doors etc through

[PocketThunder]

how wide is the garage? 

is it a tandem garage.  2 wide by 2 deep?  or  ? wide x 47 ft deep?

[hemi68charger]

how wide is the garage? 

is it a tandem garage.  2 wide by 2 deep?  or  ? wide x 47 ft deep?

Thanks guys...... Yeap, it's nice and bigger than my former garage, albeit it isn't finished in regards to insulation and sheetrock.. But, I will change that..

Paul, yes, the garage is a tandem one,  2 wide x 2 deep... 47" x 22".

Troy

[hemigeno]

Troy, sounds like your ceiling joists are placed on 24" centers, which leaves 22-1/2" open between each joist.  Are you looking to just make a scuttle/access hole, or were you going to add a slideout or folding ladder?  There are a number of pre-fab attic access ladders that will fit that space.  The more access holes you have, the more storage space you lose also.  If you use a sliding ladder, you lose the floor space where the ladder has to slide into for storage as well.

My advice would be to put just one scuttle hole near a perimeter wall, so you could lean a stepladder or small extension ladder up against the wall - but put the access in an area where you have plenty of headroom.  Use the rest of your space for storage.  You'll lose a lot of useable space close to the eaves, so don't burn up your best storage space with a bunch of holes.  If you really wanted multiple access points, put a scuttle hole at each side of the garage, directly under the ridge line of your roof trusses.  That'll give you the most headroom when you climb up.  Don't forget about running a couple of lights up there - that beats toting a flashlight around.  Normally, code requires you to have one that you can turn on/off near the access hole(s).

Even if you plank that area off, it's not likely to be capable of carrying tremendous loads.  Anything heavy that you store up there should be kept as close to a bearing wall as you can squeeze it.  I'd still be careful stowing anything heavy up there at all. 

The Wood Book I have here in the office says that if you want to span 22' with a #2 grade Spruce/Pine/Fir, for a ceiling joist with no storage loading, you would need 2x8's spaced on 16" centers.  With your existing 2x6's on 24" centers, that is way under what it calls for just to support a ceiling - again, without any provisions for storage.  Although, from your picture, it almost looks like your ceiling joists are 2x8.  Might just be the way the picture looks to me though.  Either way, you're really pushing the envelope to use this area for storage even if you plank it off.  I personally think you need to consider at least inserting an intermediate joist at each joist space, to make the spacing 12" on center.  Intermediate blocks or metal "X" straps at the 1/4 points of the span would be a good idea too, even with your 1x6 plank on top (unless you were going to use 1x6 or plywood on the underneath side too).

I'm glad to hear the move went well for you - hadn't heard an update from you in a while...  Give me a call if you want to kick this around a little more.

[PocketThunder]

Geno beat me to it.  i was gonna also say just put one access door at the end of your garage.  It looks like your rafters are at 4/12 or 6/12 so with a 22' span thats only about 5' of head room at the most in the center.

I would tear off the roof and rafters and build a second floor for storage with I-joists.  Something similar to what Old Moparz did with his shop.

[hemi68charger]

Geno and Paul,

    The joists are 2x8's and the spacing is 16" on center, that's for the rear/newer section of the the garage. The garage used to be a 2-car garage that was expanded.......... I'm probably going with a simple scuttle/access hole and use my ladder for access... I'll eventually be decking a majority of the ceiling surface and sheetrocking/insulating as well... That process as well should add some rigidity and strength, albeit more load....

Troy

[6pkrunner]

Troy - you can laminate (double up)  onto two beams that are 32 inches apart.  That is skip the middle beam. Then support the middle beam that is to be cut in two places on either side of where you want the opening. Cut the middle beam and run a length of beam sized lumber across the 32 inch opening. Tie into the cut beam. Then laminate another onto that single. You wind up with two of the beams laminated their full length and a doubled section perpendicular tying the beams and tied into the cut beam.
When I extended my garage I built the same setup (across 3 beam on 12 inch centers for hsauling engines up to the second floor. I've hauled 440s up without a hitch.

[hemi68charger]

Here's what I've done... Took 1x8's formed gussets in between the joists....... Where the joists were flexible before, they are rock solid now where I've completed.......... About half way done..........  The other picture is of the sort-of-unpacked-and-arranged new 47x22 garage....  After the "stiffening" is complete, I'll be insulating and sheetrocking the ceiling......

Thanks for the input everyone....

Troy