Loft Framing Question

Started by drlenger, July 10, 2011, 08:59:28 AM

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drlenger

Getting excited, finishing our barn so I can finally start on the cabin.....which I will begin posting progress in a few months.  I am finalizing plans now and have a framing question.  How exactly do you frame the walls to allow for the loft subfloor......I have seen many pictures in the forum but no technical explanation or diagrams of how that framing is done.  Is it just a header board suface applied to the wall studs at 1st floor ceiling height or is it a small framed wall section stacked on top of the 1st floor wall top stringers.....I would love to have some direction on this.....a diagram would be great.  Thanks everyone for your inspiration.....I am almost there!   ???
Call me......Crazy Ozark American
because being called a "Hillbilly" is offensive

John Raabe

If you want decent headroom in a loft you will probably want to do some version of the 1-1/2 story plan. See http://www.countryplans.com/20w_loft.html. There are several example houses there that have use details from this plan.

This uses balloon framing on the side walls to provide a stiff wall support for the truss roof framing.
None of us are as smart as all of us.


rwanders

To allow maximum headroom and usable space in loft, you will want to plan on using a ridge beam and not a ridge board design at roof----It will provide the structural support to allow clear cathedral ceiling and avoid forces trying to push the walls outwards. John Raabe and others here can provide much clearer design advice than I can.

Tall walls, (12') do require some careful design and construction to avoid some serious "aw shits".
Rwanders lived in Southcentral Alaska since 1967
Now lives in St Augustine, Florida

John Raabe

#3
Either trusses or a ridge beam will resolve the roof loads so that outward forces are not pushing out on the walls. A ridge board (as opposed to the ridge beam) needs carefully nailed collar and rafter ties to triangulate the framing and deal with the outward forces.

When you go to a building width greater than 20' you will most commonly have an internal load bearing beam to support the floor joists - usually running down the center of the building. When you do that you need to have internal posts to carry these loads down to the foundation pads. They might be spaced at somewhere between 6' to 16' and the posts have to work into the floor plan layout. When you align these posts vertically they can also support a ridge beam which will give you a full cathedral ceiling on the upper floor.

Beams, especially on the roof, should be sized locally for snow and other loads.
None of us are as smart as all of us.