Garage - bolting unistrut to wood, decrease strength

[Junk]

Just about finished redoing the garage. Will be setting up some pallet rack for storage but would also like to use some unistrut.

The joists above the garage are only 2x6" and they span 20' width wise. If I use 3/8" bolts into these 2x6"s will I be decreasing the joist's strength at all? If so is it minimal?

Never realized just how small my garage really was, but now with getting it set up properly I may actually be able to use it

 

[beaufort-fj60]

2"x6" are small, must be an old house. Maybe box in the area where you do this (put 2"x6" fire blocking in the area of the bolts)

 

[zebrabeefj40]

Junkster,

I'm thinking maybe you ought to span a couple rafters with some square tube or a couple pieces of unistrut bolted back to back. Then hang the unistrut from threaded rod down through the garage ceiling. That way two rafters can share the load. Call me if you need clarification.

Nick

 

[Capt. Jim]

If you are supporting your racks on the floor, and just bolting to the joists at the top of the rack, a 3/8" through bolt in the joist will not cause any structural problems. Keep the hole in the middle 1/3 of the joist depth.

If you are going to suspend you rack from the joists, many other factors come into play. If you are going to suspend the rack, give us as much info as possibleand I'll give you my input.

If you are just giving lateral support to a rack sitting on the floor, the weakness created by the hole is negligible. In fact, the unistrut may enhace the structural integrity of the joist if it is supported on the floor and has adequat lateral bracing.

 

[bigbrowndog]

I would not drill 6x2 ceiling Joists assuming they are a pine or softwood at that span. Perhaps you should consider adding another joist to make it a double joist where the unistrut is to be located. At a minimum, fix a 3ft to 4ft length of the same sized timber to the joist with 8 x 3inch gun nails and then drill that piece not the joist at each point where the unistrut is to be anchored.cheers

 

[Arya Ebrahimi]

Junk, are you talking about through bolting to the side or lag bolting to the bottom? Would definatley make a difference. Are you sure the 2x6's are joists and not trusses? That would also make a difference.