Size of a mezonine

Bkpigs · Nov 13, 2019

I am wanting to build a storage area above my work bench. I am trying to decide on a width. I will be walking on it with storage against the wall (really almost a second level). I don't want posts so there will be braces at 45 degrees underneath it to the wall about every 4 foot and maybe even a chain on the unsupported corner to the rafter. I was thinking 4 foot wide but would 6 foot work or be too far out without the posts? The joists will be made of 2X6's and have 3/4 inch plywood for the floor.

ss55 · Nov 13, 2019

Allow a minimum of two feet for a walkway, more would be better. How much weight will you be adding for the stored items and the mezonine itself? Free standing shelves above the work bench might be just as useful.

dpendzic · Nov 13, 2019

I would think 6 ft wide would be the minimum you would want--the angle supports will work,a but if you can make the 2x6 floor joists be continuous over the wall support and secured on the far end then they can cantilever out and support the 6 ft balcony--i have designed a few cantilever 2nd story balconys by just extending the ceiling joists out past the wall---using 40psf loading

Pete in Holland MI · Nov 13, 2019

How wide is this mezzanine ? If it is wall to wall, suggest a beam from wall to wall on the front to carry the load.

What are you storing there? Boxes of feathers or big engine parts? That'll determine how heavy the thing needs to
be. Even if you only plan to store feathers, what keeps you, or a future owner from storing big engine blocks.
Use caution building something light duty for only light use.

You want about 3' as a walk way, plus the depth of your shelves. You need room to back the box off the shelf.
Don't forget to allow for the railing either on the mezzanine floor, or attached to the front of it.

Am concerned about angle braces from the wall. Depending on the load, it will put a lot of strain on the wall in
a direction the wall most likely wasn't designed to handle.

Good luck....

Adirondack case guy · Nov 13, 2019

It sounds to me like he is building a big shelf inward from an exterior wall to become a mezzanine/storage area. There is no way to cantilever floor joist with that arrangement. I would instead, drop chains from each rafter and attach to each joist, and also attach the knee braces to each joist from the wall studs.The knee braces can be installed from joist up to wall, or down from joist to wall, or both. Joist up construction will make laying the floor a bit harder, but you would not sacrifice clearance over your work bench.I would be reluctant to make it over 4' wide because you are depending on existing structure, (wall and rafters) to support all the extra load that you are planning, and it is just human nature to stuff lots of stuff up there. This extra load will also want to tip the wall towards the center of the building if you don't use support poles, so the overall bracing between side walls and roof trusses need to be considered also. I believe that this covers the "load dynamics". It is up to you to use suitable materials and fasteners to make the project functional. -------------------Loren

Doug - Iowa · Nov 13, 2019

If you are in a post frame building you might look at these brackets for ideas: POST-RACK

dpendzic · Nov 13, 2019

Loren--you will notice i used the word IF it is an interior wall--I like your idea of hanging the balcony from the rafters if they are strong enough to hold the load--i have used 2x4 bolted hangars to hang a mezzanine also

David G · Nov 13, 2019

I think you are asking for trouble, I would not do that with more than a shelf, maybe 3' max.

David G · Nov 13, 2019

I have a 12' mezzanine, it has double LAM beams with posts every 15' on the inside

Adirondack case guy · Nov 13, 2019

I used the term rafter rather than truss, because some might fasten the support chains to the bottom cord of a truss and that would have a tenancy to pull the truss apart, rather than compress and spread the load across more of the truss.We don't know much about how the building is constructed so all we can do is suggest general construction principles.-------------Loren

DoubleO7 · Nov 13, 2019

Maybe consider pallet racks.
You could place one rack and use it as the workbench.
Another below and several above.
You can find the on CL all the time for cheap.

37chief · Nov 13, 2019

Extra storage is good, but I found it is just another place to lose things. I was thinking of chaining some of my old motorcycles I probably will never do any thing with, from my shop rafters. I think it would look different, and give me more room. Then let my family figure how to get them down. Stan

jeffcat · Nov 13, 2019

Just throwing in my .02$. Here at work we
get several types of "pallets". Your
standard 3X4 foot fireplace fodder are all
over the joint. Some are very nicely made
and some are TOTAL junk even brand new. The
second one is a skid. These are special
sizes and for specific uses. Most of these
are really nice stuff. This one is around
26x40 inch and I have taken a bunch home
because these just get thrown out. They are
great for stacking stuff on so it is not on
a cold or wet or dirt floor. Only trouble
is all of these wood items are made from
the cheapest pine wood out there. Last is a
plastic one used for soda crates and beer
kegs. They are worth a fortune and you will
be shot taking any. The absolute best were
many years ago from Kubota tractors. Made
out of teak! And I don't mean little sticks
of wood. Man I wish that some of those
found their way to my house.

jeffcat · Nov 13, 2019

Here is the plastic one

VicS · Nov 13, 2019

I built a corner shelf. 10ft out from
corner. And another 10 by 10 square with 1
post. In my shop. My advice is don't do
it. I have a lot of junk on my shelves.
Buy a storage building or container to
keep your stuff. That way your kids can
just sell the container and not have to
deal with it. L0L

Bkpigs · Nov 13, 2019

Sorry for the lack of detail, I was trying to post at the end of my shift at work. The shelf would be for parts, nothing like full engine block but definitely heavier than feathers. I already have a 4x8 I put up with a post and was going to build off of there. I was planning on doing 16x4 from that to make an L. This is an exterior wall with 2X6 studs 2 foot on center. The rafters are on 4 foot centers and the ceiling is 16 foot high. The storage shelves I was going to put up there would be about 2 foot deep. Mainly for parts (filters, oil, electrical parts, bushings, etc.).

3000OH · Nov 13, 2019

+1 on thoughts about those kinds of loads on the walls

Russ from MN · Nov 14, 2019

If you hang anything from the rafters make sure you go to the top chord, and secure to the bottom one also. How much snow load do you get in your area? If your
rafters are sometimes maxed out with snow load then you shouldn't hang anything from them. We sometimes get a lot of snow so in our tractor shed I ran cables
across from pole-to-pole , stretched tight under each truss, then I don't worry about it.

cjunrau · Nov 14, 2019

Make it safe. Run an I beam from end to end. Pole on Each end. That way you don?t have all that
weight twisting on your wall. 2x6 /16 ft on 2 ft centre is not designed to hang thousands of lbs on
it. 1 good piece of metal and 1 pole at the end of work bench and the other at the wall is way
better

T in NE · Nov 15, 2019

I like that idea. Set it up so you can get
to both sides of the work bench, too.

Size of a mezonine

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