Guys,

Mostly registered here hoping get some help in deciding between a couple of different joisting methods running off of and between two H beams (one will likely be specified as W16x57/ or 67l/f, @38′ long; end-pinned-only hopefully) and one W14x82 @33′, w/ similar span on end to end steel columns on bolted plates atop 4 new 3’x3’x18″ footings. Previous design was scrapped in October in favor of adding second story. The hiccup forced a 2011 pour without pinnings being set into the 10″ concrete, other than bolts for the sill plates. No bolting of steel column mounting plates went in and my understanding is I will now need to pour seperate footings, with anchor ties set in, particularly at the front where the frost wall was left at grade and open for determining access-ways later.  

The un-short story is that a heartbreaking discovery of ledge last year really messed up plans to add some working and storage space to our solid 1995 with the 2 bay under squeeze thang going on. That, after we also learned we have no other doable site near the house for a same level barn nor any main level extension to the house itself.

Wait. Get’s better. Even getting the frostwall with rough foundation in late last season required working the footprint into a not 45deg but 40deg angle. The ledge removal was costlier (to us anyway) than you’d expect to put out for an ordinary, 1 level garage pad extension. So we decided to pull money for the barn budget we had going, to build more utility (if not more market value) into this garage extension, and add another story. We elected to pour the pad this year and procede. Am now in the process of pinpointing 4 new footings for 4 steel columns. Think I have that covered…so…

If all goes well, we will have acheived (properly loaded up for) a second level, rated for cold storage, a walk in tub, and my disabled wife’s vegetable/indoor potting / growing plans, plus office furniture, books, probably approaching L360 loading or thereabouts.

Heating either level is not a priority for the bulk of this addition. For the roofing we are leaning toward steel. But arrrrgh, for now, more importantly I need to know more about ventilation routing, the loading weight of a good sub-commericial roof exhaust and one of those typical infrared ceiling heaters.  My focus today though is what kinds of exhaust/venting (routing) caveats am I apt to run into code-wise for exterior elevation clearances, such as with chimneys. E.g., when the space will be used for limited non-commercial welding, woodworking, sandblasting, and painting, among other projects.

I deserve to be scolded for thinking I could tackle so many architectural aspects on the fly as the project morphed into a good quality residential addition hybrid.

Then yesterday it dawns that I had better ward off any wishing later that I had not backed us into another costly remedy for any and all possible future ventilation, and drywalling necessities. The upper level could be sold/used as 2 bedrooms by future buyers should that need come along.

Sure. After the 4 new column footings with pins and the pad are all there, it’s still going to be a “garage under”. But. It will be a rather cool DIY’er’s dream space as well. Note: Am already disappointed to learn that a long sough home automotive lift (ceiling elevation of 13’+) was just too much of a reach.

If we side-hang and bear joists onto H-Beams bottom flange, will I be sorry I did not designate a foot or better of elevation for ductwork and infrared heater suspension.

Mostly hoping somebody here will be kind enough to tell me whether this might be a good forum for the few remaining essentials I would like to have covered before submittinig final AutoCAD dwg, either to our first engineer or to an interested architect who indicated an interest and availability for reviewing and possibly signing off on the plan.

Can provide screenshots of drawings if requested. Tks.