I have an approximate 10 by 10 room. I just noticed a tenant is storing A LOT of boxes in the room. I have no idea what is in them. It could be books which are quite heavy or lighter things. There is not much room left to walk. It is 5 feet high. I am wondering how much weight of the floor can safely hold before causing any structural damage?
Weightbearing load
1 - 13 of 13 Posts
Not a pro on span tables but you will need to provide more information.
What size are the floor joists?
5' ceiling doesn't sound like a regular room, is this an attic space?
Spacing of floor joists?
Any supporting walls underneath and where?
What is below this space?
Bud
What size are the floor joists?
5' ceiling doesn't sound like a regular room, is this an attic space?
Spacing of floor joists?
Any supporting walls underneath and where?
What is below this space?
Bud
Joined
·
628 Posts
Average load on a floor above and open space is approx 1250lbs per square foot. But like Bud stated, there are many variables that need values for an exact calculation.
Set the boxes up against the walls, That will ease your mind.
Set the boxes up against the walls, That will ease your mind.
The ceiling is a normal height, the floor joists are 16 in apart, 2 by 6. The boxes are stacked two deep and about 5 feet high on one side of the room
Joined
·
8,100 Posts
Our building code requires single family dwellings to have a design live load of 40 lbs. per square foot for the first floor and 30 lbs. per square foot for the second floor. Point loads can be a problem but if the load is distributed around the room with modern construction a second floor room of 100 square feet can hold 3000 lbs. and be within design criteria. In an old house, it all depends. Some were over built and some were under built.
I'm not sure if I understand exactly what a span is but there is a room underneath it about 10 by 8 feet.
How far along their length is it between the points where the 2x6 joists are supported by a beam or a wall? Presumably, that's either 8 feet or 10 feet, unless there's a beam that they sit on in the middle of that 10x8 room.
What are the actual dimensions of the joists? Are they a typical smooth (dressed) 2x6 (1-1/2" x 5-1/2") or are they rough lumber (2" x 6")? I ask because even 8' is a fairly large span for dressed 2x6 joists supporting a floor. Rough lumber is not only bigger, but it would indicate it's also older wood, which was also typically stronger material.
The room is 10 ft wide but the room underneath is 8 feet wide. Glad I re-measured the joists because they are actually 7 by 1.5.
The rec room which is right beside the 8 foot wide room in the basement, the joists run in the opposite direction as do the joists in the laundry room across the hall. The rec room is very long, 12 by 27 feet with no supporting pillars.
Joined
·
4,500 Posts
I also have a LOT of boxes stacked up. They are empty. Just sayin.
I also have a clause in my leases stating "no waterbeds or aquariums over 25ga."
8 foot joist span
If the boxes were tightly packed with books, and were stacked 5 feet high over the entire room, the loading (110 lbs / square foot ) would be close to the capacity of the floor system. What you describe is well below that, even if the boxes are completely filled with books.
1 - 13 of 13 Posts
