Garage wall frame from pallet racking??

[DavidVT]

Hello,

I have a new stick welder coming this week and have a pile of 24' + pallet racking in my yard. I did not buy the welder for this project but since placing the order I continue to find ideas for it's usage......

Do the experienced DIY's think I could build a garage frame out of that racking?

I am thinking I could cut them to length and build the side walls and rear wall of a garage easily. I would weld them together with the strong C channel in the vertical orientation.

I imagine using a set of trusses for the roof in thinking that I want a vertical load on the racking rather than trying to make it handle the horizontal load of rafters??

Not jumping right into it but am looking for suggestions....

Skin of the garage.?..?. could be metal or maybe cedar boards that I can get at a decent price locally....

Maybe I will try to sketch this in Google sketch...

 

[Ken Cunningham]

I bulit a small 10ft x 10ft shed to hold me over until I can get the yard finished and build a larger building. I used 3x3x1/4 angle for the floor, walls, and roof. After it was all said and done, I could have built the thing in 1/4 of the time for just about the same money. If I ever build another one it will be wood framed.

However the building will be here long after im gone as the angle was all galvanized. The entire skin of the building could rot off and the frame would still last another 50 years at least.

Allowing for attaching the siding will eat up alot of time because you will have to fir it with wood to be able to nail the stuff on. It will make for a neat project but be warned you will probably be sick of it by the time you get it finished. Good Luck to you and hope it comes out nicely.

 

[bobodu]

I'm a firm believer in using what is laying around and welding it all together would sure help deter the scrap monkeys from stealing it!!

 

[DavidVT]

I hear you on the scrap monkey problem...

A good friend was recently called to her 2nd home as the door was found open. This is rural Vermont....

She found EVERY piece of copper plumbing in the house removed.
Radiators, domestic water lines, etc..
And naturally anything near the radiator walls was destroyed....

----------
As to attaching siding to this hypothetical garage, I am thinking about that. Good point!

 

[Drylander]

My friend in El Paso built his shed from Pallet racking uprights. I was concerned that it was flimsey when he told me, but it was very well braced and strong. After he put the barn metal on it, you can't tell how it was made. It looked good. He had the material to work with.

John

 

[DavidVT]

AH, thanks for the encouragement!

I think it might work with metal siding.

How did he support the roof?

Thx

 

[BHD]

I know of a nice two car garage built out of I think 1" or 1 1/4" square tubing the wall and the guy welded up a simple truss guessing spaced about 4' on center, and sheeted with steel roofing, and it has stood for 30+ years, he put insulation board, (the old celeotex type fiber stuff under the tin). a very nice building it is about 20 or 24 wide by 30 long, used a screen door for the man door and has two roll up garage doors on it.

 

[keving]

FWIW, you could probably sell the pallet racking and use the proceeds to buy traditional building materials. Pallet racking is bringing good money right now and I'm guessing the cost of steel is not going down anytime soon.

 

[Drylander]

DavidVT

Sorry for the delay. Our computer has been out and I have been travelling.

He used guard rail (like from a highway )he got somewhere to make the roof supports. Believe it or not, it looks good from the outside. I think you could make the roof section supports from many materials.

Good luck,

John

 

[joes_427_vette]

I would check with the local building inspector to see if the pallet racking idea would fly. I would personally keep what I needed and sell the rest to buy conventional material. Who can predict the future and if you would have to sell the property the garage might be a rough spot with a potential buyer. Your nickel...... and your call.