Garage 15' Span Reinforecment
 

When I bought my home the inspector noticed the 15" span of the garage ceiling was sagging, I was given a credit from the homeowner for an addition of an engineered joist to help support the weight of the sheetrock, the attic is pretty much empty, would be nice to use it as storage. The 2"x6"'s that were used are obviously not sufficient for the length. I've put this off for 10 years now, but now that I am getting a new garage door/opener I feel I should address this once and for all.

The only way to get the joist in the attic above the garage is to go through the vent on the side of the house. The vent opening is 12.5" tall. The span is around 15' 6". My neighbors home is much lower than mine, so we could use his roof to somehow get the joist in.

Anyone have any idea what size engineered lumber I would need, and what the approx price is for the material? My wife's brother-in-law is in construction so I will talk to him about handling the job for me.

The other thing is, what can I jack the ceiling up with to get it level? I may have to rent something, or make a jig that is long enough and use a car jack maybe? Seems like it needs to come up around 3-4 inches.

A local lumberyard should be able to size the joist for you. Should be under $100.
I wouldn't jack up the joists, I'd cut them in the middle, put the new beam in from the bottom and connect the cut joists to the engineered beam with joist hangers.
Ron

Ok, thanks, for some reason I thought the engineered beam would be a lot higher in price. When I stated I would jack up the ceiling what I meant was, install the new engineered beam(through the side vent of the attic space, fasten it in place on both ends, then gently jack up the ceiling until it was level (where it should be) then connect the 2" x6" weaker beams to the new engineered beam. Not sure what you mean go from underneath, it's a finished garage, there is sheetrock on the ceiling.

there are all kinds of ways to make use of the engineered beam WITHOUT cutting the joists.


If it wont be living space, a carpenter can build a frame for the beam to carry the load from above.

you need to talk to someone who knows what they are doing.

I am, was just getting a head start on the job to see if anyone had other ideas, he may have an entirely different idea as far as i know.

That beam will probably be a little more than $100. Maybe even $200. It will probably be what is referred to as an LVL. The beam could be installed above the joists, but some sort of structural straps or hangers would need to be used. Don't expect to jack up those old joists all the way. You will probably be lucky to get it up halfway without causing too many other problems. The best way may be as someone stated, cut a slot out of the joists, and hang them flush with the bottom of the new beam. Standard hangers could then be used. Both sides of the cutout joists would need supported to do it this way.