how much weight does the attic bear?

[shcisamax]

As we continue to load boxes, I am beginning to wonder if they will all come down. Anyone have any idea how much weight a Lantana attic will hold or is that a question for the builder? Any guesses?

[Redrok]

As we continue to load boxes, I am beginning to wonder if they will all come down. Anyone have any idea how much weight a Lantana attic will hold or is that a question for the builder? Any guesses?
Definitely a question for the Builder.

[Gerald]

I agree talk to the builder.

[CarGuys]

And let the rest of us know the results.:posting:

Thanks

[CaptJohn]

That's really a question for a structural engineer.

[chuckinca]

Correct - the builder's design structural engineer.

.

[Golfingnut]

I have put in an attic ladder and have stored approx 2 thousand lbs on ply wood laid over the 2x4s in my garage. My bet is the attic storage inside the house would be stronger than in the garage; however, I have no concern about overloading the attic in the garage with a meer 2000 lbs.

[mulligan]

I believe you will find that, unless "attic trusses" were specified, the design load for the bottom chord of the trusses equals their own weight plus the ceiling system (drywall). Be real careful how much you load the attic.

[Golfingnut]

I believe you will find that, unless "attic trusses" were specified, the design load for the bottom chord of the trusses equals their own weight plus the ceiling system (drywall). Be real careful how much you load the attic.

That sounds like information from a man that knows: I have always loaded them very heavy without any problems over the years, but that does not mean that I was safe. I hope this thread gets a difinitive answer from an expert.

[mulligan]

You might be able to get "real" numbers from the design dep't at Romac on rolling acres rd. They supply/manufacture most of the trusses used in TV.

[shcisamax]

While I am at it, I would not store photos because of the humidity but do you think stuffed animals and baby clothes would be affected? How about oriental carpets? And Mulligan is clearly the guru :)

[hotrodgirl]

I have stored many things in my attic in Boynton Beach in the Space Saver Vacuum bags. I have some quilts, books, kitchen items. They stay safe and unaffected in the bags, but I definitely would not store any photos just because of the heat. I have taken down and opened the quilts and they still smelled freshly laundered. Remarkable!

[dkrhardy]

I have stored many things in my attic in Boynton Beach in the Space Saver Vacuum bags. I have some quilts, books, kitchen items. They stay safe and unaffected in the bags, but I definitely would not store any photos just because of the heat. I have taken down and opened the quilts and they still smelled freshly laundered. Remarkable!

I think that is the best. If you store clothing , etc without the vac bags, I'm very sure the humidity would cause you problems.
Don

[graciegirl]

bear in attic - Bing Images (http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=bear+in+attic&view=detail&id=FD38CCACE9C300FDCDF0EF6A249E72CA4EC473CE&first=36)

[jimbo2012]

There are basically two types of truss used, not being there can't say which is used.

Many people have mention attic stairs so I assume many R storing stuff up there.
It must be noted that is you put any decking up there you should NOT crush the insulation, in fact there should ideally be air space between same.

You can use plywood or strand board, but to save weight and make it easy to get thru your attic stair opening if you go to HD have them cut the pieces into 3 equal parts about 16" x 96" and space them apart for air circulation and better coverage.

The garage has a span of about 20' so be mindful of that if anything is heavy, it is better to place that stuff over interior walls if you can for better support.

The first type light storage is design for 20 pounds per square foot (PSF) to the bottom chord.

http://www.wood-truss-design.com/images/Standard-Fink-Size-600Wx24H.png

The other type is a true attic truss for heavier loads upto about 35# per sq',

you can clearly see the bottom chord is bigger like a 2x6 or 2x8.

So if you have this type it can support more weight than the first type.

http://www.wood-truss-design.com/images/atticmain600x236.png

Bottom line don't overload spread out the boxes in my unprofessional "guess" you should be ok.

[mulligan]

These people are all talking about the space over the garage. No insulation, and the span is more like 24' with a butt splice @ the middle of the bottom chord. I can't remember the load rating with the splice, but I do know it's not much.

[jimbo2012]

Ok, but if you stored stuff over the interior walls there would be insulation.

If the span is 24' that bottom beam must be 2x8 or 2x10 I guess.

I saw only one pic of a truss being nailed in place and that one looked like the second pic.

The builder must know or the design dept.

[rubicon]

According to my neighbor at least 300 pounds because he was up there the other day;)

[jimbo2012]

how did he fit thru the opening:a040:

It's a good point the workers are walking all over them as are the home owners and contractors, but that is live load vs dead load.

Also let's face it if a box was heavy, how can someone climb the steps with a 100+ lb box?

[zcaveman]

how did he fit thru the opening:a040:

It's a good point the workers are walking all over them as are the home owners and contractors, but that is live load vs dead load.

Also let's face it if a box was heavy, how can someone climb the steps with a 100+ lb box?

Step by step if you have ladder stairs to the attic.

[hdh1470]

Ezattic.com has easy flooring you can do yourself

[jimbo2012]

plywood is half the price of that and HD has it no shipping, I would also guess a bit more stable to walk & store on.

[784caroline]

Yes weight should be a concern for any attic storage but we have found a bigger issue is HEAT. I dont know what you are storing in the attic, but the heat will even do a job of ordinary cardboard boxes....they absorb mosisture from all the humidity. Most people will use the plastic storage containers for in the attic or at an absolute minimun storage or moving cardboard boxes that are heavier and able to withstand the heat better.

Be very careful on what you are storing....clothes with absorb the moisture and be ruined, wax figures or candles will melt, paper products sucha s books or note pads just will not make it over a period of time. WE primarily use it for Xmas decorations, coolers , or stuff used once a year.

[batman911]

Best to always locate attic storage where there is/are support wall(s) directly under the storage space. Storing heavy items on an area with a long span between bottom support structure is not advisable.

[RichieLion]

I'm never going in the attic again. I didn't know about the attic bears.

[mulligan]

The bottom chord is a 2x4. Hence, the concern with weight. I suppose you could get to a supported area if your home had flat ceilings, but with vaulted ceilings, as a lot of homes here have, the only accessible area is over the garage.

[skip0358]

The bottom chord is 2x6 with it joined in the middle. I store all my items by the kitchen wall in the attic thus giving the bottom chord more support. Nothing really heavy is up there XMAS tree and decorationc, suitcases tax receipts and the like. All our photos which should NOT go up there I scanned into the computer and backed up. As for clothes I added extra shelves to the closets and store them in there. Once a year we purge the house. If we haven't used it or worn it we donate it.

[asianthree]

:agree: heat would be a bigger issue

[Dancing Queen]

jimbo2012 I always love your answers you leave with diagrams.

[jimbo2012]

tks, nut'n to it.

this is for Rich

I didn't know about the attic bears.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7028/6636996857_87e7efee63_z.jpg

[Penguin]

tks, nut'n to it.

this is for Rich



http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7028/6636996857_87e7efee63_z.jpg

I'm not sure how much a attic bear weighs but I've heard polar bears are about 1000 lbs :1rotfl:

[RichieLion]

Thanks Jimbo. If my wife makes me go back up there I'm taking a tranquilizer gun with me :)

[tommy steam]

There are basically two types of truss used, not being there can't say which is used.

Many people have mention attic stairs so I assume many R storing stuff up there.
It must be noted that is you put any decking up there you should NOT crush the insulation, in fact there should ideally be air space between same.

You can use plywood or strand board, but to save weight and make it easy to get thru your attic stair opening if you go to HD have them cut the pieces into 3 equal parts about 16" x 96" and space them apart for air circulation and better coverage.

The garage has a span of about 20' so be mindful of that if anything is heavy, it is better to place that stuff over interior walls if you can for better support.

The first type light storage is design for 20 pounds per square foot (PSF) to the bottom chord.

http://www.wood-truss-design.com/images/Standard-Fink-Size-600Wx24H.png

The other type is a true attic truss for heavier loads upto about 35# per sq',

you can clearly see the bottom chord is bigger like a 2x6 or 2x8.

So if you have this type it can support more weight than the first type.

http://www.wood-truss-design.com/images/atticmain600x236.png

Bottom line don't overload spread out the boxes in my unprofessional "guess" you should be ok.

good info ,thanks

[Scott8147]

I was very concerned about the weight limits in my attic over the garage as I had lots of business stuff I'm required to keep for years. I ended up storing about 60 plastic tubs, each weighing between 50 and 75 lbs. So something between 3000 and 4500 lbs. Plus I added additional items over the joists on the wings. So far it's all been up there for about 6 weeks. When we had the big storms a couple of weeks ago I was expecting the to hear it crashing down as the house was moving. So far so good. So my unprofessional opinion would be either you can put a lot more up there than you think or I will be in big trouble soon. Hope it's the former.

[buzzy]

My home inspector had said that the attic would hold a lot of weight. Today, I took another look, and I have the second type of truss system in jimbo's diagrams. Good to know.