Thread: How much load can my wall handle?

Now I'm no engineer, but there is NO WAY I would be comfortable hanging 900 kg off a stud wall

I have subsequently read that each stud can take 3000kg + of compression.

The 900kg is spread over 7 studs

I think you'll need a bit of reinforcement. Compression is not a problem at all. The problem is that the wall has a tendency to fold in. so you will need to have some ceiling joists to act as props to keep the opposite walls apart. Have the joists checked-in to maintain the right distance between the top plates of the opposite walls. I would also have half the load of one wall (3 racks on each wall). Then you'll be fine.

And that's why I'm not an engineer

If only I had another wall


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You aren’t applying the load axially to the studs but offset to them; essentially the load will be trying to both bend the studs and pull them into the workshop. In order for the load to be evenly distributed in compression you need to have an identically loaded set of racks on the other side of the wall too.

Your shed looks typically lightweight construction using a nail gun and strapping in lieu of housing the studs into the top plate. And although I can see what appear to be rafters I don’t see any beams spanning the roof under the rafters. Essentially from what I can see the only things stopping the studs from being pulled into the shed will be the top plate and whatever strength is being imparted by the rafters.

I have to agree with Elan; I also would not be comfortable applying that load.

At one end there is the shed wall and 3.6m along (effectively the rack length) there is the mezzanine level with a 200x25 spanning from one side of the shed to the other.

The rack only comes out 350mm from the studs

I notice no builders have replied to this thread. I don't blame them. It's not just during the initial loading that a failure could occur. What's the stud and rafter spacing? Are those studs only 75mm? At the very least you need to install some ceiling joists at every stud or rafter. The whole structure looks pretty light weight, loading it up in this way is definitely in the dodgy realm.

The studs are about 550 apart and are 100x40 of some of the hardest wood I have ever drilled.

My concerns have been confirmed so now thinking I will load these racks with 36 boards ~420kg and stick the rest on the garage floor.

Originally Posted by Damienol

I have subsequently read that each stud can take 3000kg + of compression.

The 900kg is spread over 7 studs

Each stud may carry 3000kg in compression, you are applying a moment to them because you are effectively applying the load at least half the width of the board (assuming wide boards arranged 1 wide on rails) or half the length of the rails ( narrower boards stacked side by side across the rails). This loading is trying to pull the studs out of the top plates, and or coupling through the top plates into to the roof framing and trying to rack the entire shed so that the wall the rails are mounted on wants to rotate into the shed and collapse. Overall strength will be a function of the fasteners connecting the studs and top plate, the studs resistance to splitting where the fasteners pass into it, and the degree of resistance that the roof framing can provide.

I have 2 walls with similar racks loaded with Jarrah sheoak camphor laurel & marri 8 of those racks on each wall load bearing studs are 400mm apart but the shed is steel frame.
Probably a better idea to keep the load light but check your studs for any movement anyway over time if no discernible movement after a period of given time you might be able to slightly increase the load best to err on the side of caution .

I, for one, want to know what the 900 kgs of American Oak is going to be used for

Stack it on the floor using stickers, dont have to worry about anything breaking and will still get the air flow.

So its 900kg spread over a bunch of studs

Given the apparent visual age of the shed I would be very confident in saying that the studs are butt nailed to the plates with 2 x 75 x 3.75 BH nails which will give a penetration into the the end grain of the stud of 25mm and the rafters only skew nailed with 2 of the same nails holding power for your intended load RUN FOR YOUR LIFE is a kind way of saying it. You are creating a disaster waiting to happen not to mention voiding your insurance policy and if it goes pear shaped on top of you with no-one around to call the medics............

As suggested, stack it on the floor with stickers