Hi Tom,
My solution is similar to Randall's. I too had considered folding stairs but
for my needs they would have been in the way.
When I built my 30 x 30 two story garage in the late 80's I supported the 2nd
story floor joists with an 18" steel beam because (1) I planned on storing
heavy things up there and (2) I didn't want any columns in the middle of the
lower level. I originally thought of using a set of stairs along the back
wall. I instead opted for a "hole" in the floor so that I could more easily
move the large, heavy items up there. In order to do that, I also invested in
a used electric chainfall, attached to a reinforced ridge beam, which I use to
hoist to the 2nd level. There is some rigging involved and a temporary floor
required to fill the "hole" to make all of this manageable but it works very
well. At one point I had four complete TR6 engines, one complete Jeep 6
cylinder engine, 4 TR6 diffs, 4 TR6 transmissions, a snowblower, a rototiller,
many lawnmowers, extra roofing shingles, my air compressor, the hot air
heating system and LOTS of other stuff. I also use the chain fall to pull
engines from vehicles. It will actually lift the entire front of the TR (with
engine) off the ground :-)
Having decided on the "hole" vs the stairs, I needed a ladder of some sort. I
ended up using one side of an old 24' wood extension ladder....I would not
suggest doing this....I just had it at the time so I used it...it snapped
after many years of use...no injuries...I was lucky. What I ended up with was
the "step" side of a 12 or 14' construction grade wood step ladder. After
cutting off the support side of the step ladder, I made a hook type of
arrangement at the 2nd floor end of the ladder and just raise it and hold it
up and out of the way with a hook and rope.
I also built a hinged cover for the "hole" to keep the heat downstairs when
heating the lower level. Works for me.
Hope my blabbering has helped you. Let me know if you need pics of my setup.
Good luck,
Jay in MA
Member Cape Cod British Car Club
=============================================
.........The ceiling height is 13 feet (for the lift). I've got 250 sq ft of
storage space in the attic but no readily available fold down attic stairs
come in 13 foot height.
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