[WARP TEN]

Originally Posted by 8cam

I wish I could! I just went and measured for the hell of it, and this garage has an 8 1/2 foot ceiling height, so a lift really isn't an option at all. Besides this isn't the "forever house" anyway, so there will be a much better solution at some point. Meanwhile I'll just have to live with it, and that's not so bad.

If your garage is stick built--that is, ceiling not built with trusses, you can probably raise the ceiling a foot and a half using collar ties instead of the current ceiling joists. Not too big a project but an architect or engineer should review it. If you have truss construction you really shouldn't do it. I raised the living room and kitchen ceilings with collar ties in our last house. My son is an architect and he reviewed raising a garage ceiling with trusses in a neighbor's garage. He said it could be done but would require some serious engineering and might not pass local codes. But as you say, nothing wrong with relaxing and enjoying what you have. --Bob