Replies

1. 
   Guest_ | Oct 19, 1999 03:39am | #1

   *

   Rich,

   For starters I'd move up to 2" x 10"'s unless you plan on supporting at the midway point also. Without knowing what the gage of the steel is its hard to give a good answer. I would just build a short support wall (knee) under the ledger, this will actually support the floor joists and the ledger will give you a place to nail.

   Joseph Fusco

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   "The price of apathy towards public affairs is to be ruled by evil men." -- Plato

1. 
   Guest_ | Oct 20, 1999 04:36am | #2

   *I would strongly advise against using drywall screws for structural building. Use nails.

1. 
   Guest_ | Oct 20, 1999 06:42am | #3

   *Rich: Good advice in both posts. Drywall screws are not structural screws. Structural screws are available any a good supply house in our area. If you plan to put much weight on this platform do not rely on any screws into the steel studs unless they are a structural stud. Even then I would get an engineer to ok it. Too much liablility.Ron.

1. 
   Guest_ | Oct 20, 1999 07:59am | #4

   *reinhard & Ron,I apologise. I was too subtle. I know the drywall screws would not be the way to go. When I questioned the shear strength of the drywall screws, the lumberyard guy said that if you use enough of them, the strength would be sufficient. That's why I asked here.JoeThanks. I am building the knee wall and I will be putting a support halfway also. The knee wall was my first thought, but I somehow talked myself out of it (and the guy at the lumberyard went right along).Rich Beckman