Please help with my plans for a new loft (long)
 

I am looking to capture approximately 270 sq ft of unused space and have a couple of questions for those with building experience.

I have a typical California home, 2-story, with 19 ft ceilings as you walk thru the front door. My thought is to create a loft from the space that would be accessible from the 2nd floor hallway. Attached are my preliminary plans.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1136692400.jpg

For the most part I know what materials to use, but I do have a couple of questions:

a) What material should I use for green joist? The span for this joist is 18’, but it must also support the orange joist as which acts as a header of 3-4 other joist. Also, how should I attach the orange joist to the green one? My concern is this one joist will have a quite a load but because of the configuration of the lost (i.e. the stairs do not provide a wall for me to tie into), this one joist must support a larger load. And, I do not want to have some sort of support beam (i.e. column).

b) What size material can I use for the blue joist? Will standard 2 x 12s work (I don’t think so, span is to great, right?) or do I need use some type of wood I-beam (not sure the correct term)?

Also, below are a couple of pictures to give you a visual of the actual area.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1136692479.jpg http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1136692495.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1136692524.jpg http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1136692533.jpg

Any help you guys can provide would be great. I am finalizing my plans getting ready to submit them to the city for review.

Finally a picture of my 9 month old baby (daughter #5)...just too dang cute!
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1136692566.jpg

TIA SmileWavy

v/r
Wayne C.

For flooring I'd go with 16" spacing instead of 24. The laminated "I" beams would also be straighter and stiffer than standard 2x12s.

Simpson is a company that makes brackets just for your orange to green connection. The green joist will have to be at least doubled up. Maybe trippled, depending on the total load.

Thanks...agree...I meant to type 12" centers vice 24"...16" should be ok for the 14' spacn.

Is there a way of calculating the load on the green joist to determine if it needed to be doubled or trippled up? Also, do you know how to double up a laminated I-beam?

v/r
Wayne C.

Bump for the Monday...anyone?

Wayne C.