Framing question... would like some input...

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Well, I think I likely know the answer to this... but I'm gonna ask anyway...

I built my shed with 10' high walls... it was only after I had accumulated most of the framing lumber (and all of the siding) and built one of the walls that I realized just how tall a 10' wall was. I had thought about shortening it, but then I would have had to throw away a bunch of siding (they were cut 10'6") and didn't want to do that. So now that I have it all closed in, I started thinking of putting a sort of loft in it for storage of things that I don't often need (headlight assemblies, interior panels, misc other stock truck parts, misc stuff from the house that I don't have room for in the house, etc).

Now, if I do the loft, I'll be using 10' long boards, they'll go about 2" past the inside edge of the stud on each side and I'll put a board from the underside to the floor on each end. So the span will be just under 10'. I'm also going to be putting them on 16" centers since that's what my studs are. My question is would a 2x4 be adequate, or should I be getting 2x6? I know 2x6 would be the better choice, but they're also a bit more expensive... I'll prolly be using 1/2" osb for the floor of the loft but might use 1/2 ply.

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

If you ain't gonna be walking on it, the 2x4's should be good. If you are gonna be up there i'd go 2x6 atleast

 

[smokey]

I would use 2x6 but 2x4 should be OK. As for the flooring use Plywood forget the OSB if you are going to walking on it.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

I'll prolly be walking on it till I get the roof finished up, then I'll only be crawling around up there when I'm puttin stuff up there or getting it down. After all, I'll have a loft with nearly as much floor space as the floor of the shed... 10x12

 

[4x4fun]

if your free span is 10 foot 2x4 will be fine if its just holding stuff, fit your going to be really standing on it, id go 2x6, i have an 8 foot tall shed and have a 10 foot span with 2x4 i was up there for about 30 sec before i came down,

 

[Will]

Any wood spec'd less than 8" gross width is garbage anyway. A 2x8 and above is Yellow Pine which is massively strong compared to the garbage pine of the 2x4 and 2x6s. So if you are going to be pulling an engine, even 2x6 doesn't matter. If you're talking a little storage shed, then 2x4 is more than adequate. I made a loft section in my barn like that with some old 3/4" ply for a floor and have an enormous amount of truck parts stored on it. It's not a dynamic load so you can get away with a lot.

 

[v-8power]

I would go with 2x6's. Just call it cheap insurance.

 

[grey ghost]

if your only storing headlights and small parts then a 2x4 will be plenty strong enoughfor the post but i would n't put a motor or anything like that up there unless you went bigger..

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

if your only storing headlights and small parts then a 2x4 will be plenty strong enoughfor the post but i would n't put a motor or anything like that up there unless you went bigger..

Motors, transmissions, and tires with rims are going to be stored on the real floor of the shed, not in the loft area. Until I build something else, the floor is also going to be crowded with a ranger cab standing on end, garden tractor, and set of torches, lol. But don't worry about the floor... it's all rough cut 2x oak and cherry.

 

[feellnfroggy]

Well, I think I likely know the answer to this... but I'm gonna ask anyway...

I built my shed with 10' high walls... it was only after I had accumulated most of the framing lumber (and all of the siding) and built one of the walls that I realized just how tall a 10' wall was. I had thought about shortening it, but then I would have had to throw away a bunch of siding (they were cut 10'6") and didn't want to do that. So now that I have it all closed in, I started thinking of putting a sort of loft in it for storage of things that I don't often need (headlight assemblies, interior panels, misc other stock truck parts, misc stuff from the house that I don't have room for in the house, etc).

Now, if I do the loft, I'll be using 10' long boards, they'll go about 2" past the inside edge of the stud on each side and I'll put a board from the underside to the floor on each end. So the span will be just under 10'. I'm also going to be putting them on 16" centers since that's what my studs are. My question is would a 2x4 be adequate, or should I be getting 2x6? I know 2x6 would be the better choice, but they're also a bit more expensive... I'll prolly be using 1/2" osb for the floor of the loft but might use 1/2 ply.

When we did floors on 2 story here we ran 2x12 but at the very least 2x8 to hold some weight.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

When we did floors on 2 story here we ran 2x12 but at the very least 2x8 to hold some weight.

2x12, or even 2x8 would be some serious overkill... I'm not parking trucks in the loft of the shed... heck, with 2x6 I'll only have about 4' to the peak of the roof...

 

[GBranger04]

if you use 2x4's over a 10 foot span you will see some serious bowing. even with 2x6 you will see bowing but not nearly as bad. i would say you should use 2x6 for sure or if you decide to go with 2x4 i would go with 1 foot centers to help distribute the weight. i don't have any schooling in the area but that's what my 3 years of framing experience tells me. Good luck with it.

 

[Legend]

With only a 10' span, all you really need is something to stiffen the 1/2" plywood a little. The plywood would almost carry the load of storing some small light weight stuff. What about checking a salvage yard and finding some 1" or so aluminum I beams and gain a few more inches of head room?

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

With only a 10' span, all you really need is something to stiffen the 1/2" plywood a little. The plywood would almost carry the load of storing some small light weight stuff. What about checking a salvage yard and finding some 1" or so aluminum I beams and gain a few more inches of head room?

Well.. that would be a thought... if it wasn't that I don't have a truck right now...

 

[AllanD]

I'd use atleast 2x6

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