How to Make a Storage Loft in the Rafters of My Garage

Park your largest car in the garage, and measure the distance between the ceiling and top of the car in the area where you want to install the storage loft. This ensures that you'll have enough overhead clearance.

Locate and mark the studs on the wall that the loft is being installed against with a stud finder.

Cut two 2-by-4-inch boards that match the length of the loft to be the rails for the loft's shelf.

Cut 2-by-4-inch boards that match the depth of the loft to be the rungs for the shelf. Cut enough rungs for the shelf that they are spaced no more than 12 inches apart.

Construct the framing for the shelf by placing the rungs in between the rails and driving screws through the outer edge of the rails into the end of the rungs. Use two screws at each joint, and position the rungs so that they won't be lined up directly over the studs. This will allow you to screw the back rail into the studs.

Cut a sheet of 1/2-inch plywood to fit on top of the assembled shelf base.

Apply carpenter's glue to the top edges of the rungs and rails. Lay the plywood board on top of the base, aligning all of the edges. Screw the plywood shelf to the base every 12 inches.

Snap a chalk line across the wall to mark the top edge of the shelf.

Examine the direction of the ceiling joists. If they are parallel to the wall where the loft is being installed, you can install the support beams directly to the side of the joist. If they are perpendicular, you will have to install L-shaped brackets on the bottom edge of the joist.

Install an L-shaped bracket on top of the shelf in each corner.

Lift the shelf into position against the wall, lining up the top edge of the shelf with the chalk line (have someone help you with this). Place a level on top of shelf and level it out, then screw the brackets against the wall to the studs.

Drive two screws through the back rail underneath the top of the shelf and into the studs.

Measure and cut two 2-by-4-inch boards to be the outer supports for the loft. If you had to install an L-shaped bracket on the bottom of the joist, measure between the inner edges of the two brackets. If not, measure the distance between the top of the ceiling joist and the top of the shelf.

Install the outer supports onto the loft. Screw the bottom end to the brackets on the shelf and the top end to the ceiling joist or bracket on the ceiling joist.