Need advice on raising the ceiling height for a simulator in my workshop

[kleydejong]

I have a workshop that is attached to the back of my garage that I can pretty much do whatever I want in this space.  For the previous owners it was a 3 seasons sitting room.  I have converted it into a workshop.  It has proper dimensions front to back and side to side (after I move some stuff out of the way) for a simulator, but the ceiling height is very low.  Like 8 ft.  The room is covered in wood paneling. 

 

I'd like to make this space work for a golf sim for the winter.  I don't know anything about construction or buildings or how ceilings are made.  I am considering having the paneling removed in hopes I could get a few feet in the middle of the space opened up. 

 

Any of you know anything about ceilings?  Is this a viable option at all?

 

 

 

 

 

[Baitkiller]

That's allot of glass for a hitting bay.

[kleydejong]

7 minutes ago, Baitkiller said:

That's allot of glass for a hitting bay.

 

I have a fair bit of netting.

[chipa]

There should be various beams(joists) that act as the structure that takes the weight of the roof and many times they are separated by a couple of feet. Any proposed structural changes should be looked at first by a structural engineer or maybe a licensed building contractor and it will also be required by the local authority. If the floor has a crawl space then it might be easier to convert it into a concrete slab on grade which entails gutting the floor and then pouring 4" of concrete with welded wire fabric then put some cheap carpet in. Any electrical or plumbing lines would have to be removed. I am an engineer but this isn't my area.

[kleydejong]

28 minutes ago, chipa said:

There should be various beams(joists) that act as the structure that takes the weight of the roof and many times they are separated by a couple of feet. Any proposed structural changes should be looked at first by a structural engineer or maybe a licensed building contractor and it will also be required by the local authority. If the floor has a crawl space then it might be easier to convert it into a concrete slab on grade which entails gutting the floor and then pouring 4" of concrete with welded wire fabric then put some cheap carpet in. Any electrical or plumbing lines would have to be removed. I am an engineer but this isn't my area.

 

Okay, I expected there would be some essential roof beams up there.  Is the ceiling that is visible with the wood paneling just an aesthetic cover up for those beams?  So if I remove the paneling, but leave any large structural beams that might be acceptable from a structure perspective?  I guess it would be a situation where you don't know how much space you'd get until you rip out some paneling?

 

The floor has cement under some tile. 

[chipa]

1 hour ago, kleydejong said:

 

Okay, I expected there would be some essential roof beams up there.  Is the ceiling that is visible with the wood paneling just an aesthetic cover up for those beams?  So if I remove the paneling, but leave any large structural beams that might be acceptable from a structure perspective?  I guess it would be a situation where you don't know how much space you'd get until you rip out some paneling?

 

The floor has cement under some tile. 

 

Yes pull a couple of panels and give it a look, you might get lucky and not see too many beams. If it does have beams closely spaced then a design would need to be done probably to have a reduced number of beams but larger of course. Good luck.

[Socrates]

There likely isn't any room above the ceiling panels.  The length of the planks run N-S (I just picked a logic direction for visualization) and therefore it would be logical that the joists in the ceiling run perpendicular to them (E-W).  Even if you removed the planks you likely would only gain about 3/8" of height.  To get more room, you would have to restructure the whole roof support system with large beams to take the weight and give you clear space.  Or you could rip the whole roof off and raise it a foot and then rebuild the roof.

 

Or go full on Hogan and flatten your clubs 4º and go to a one plane swing.  Or be this guy...

 

[TheDominator273]

Not sure how feasible it would be in your situation, but when I installed simulators at the course I was working at we actually broke out the existing concrete floor and sunk down the area for the simulator bays by 3 feet.  The end result was similar to a bowling alley where you step down into the hitting bays.

 

[tolmij]

Be careful and check on local building regulations before you plan anything, sometimes because of intricate conditions you may not be able to alter anything. If it is anything like I have done in the past and I have altered plenty of homes, you will require official architect drawings to be approved by the local authorities.

Anyway all the best, hope it works out for you.

Edited October 16, 2020 by tolmij

[Bubbtubbs]

Judging by the shallow roof slope in that photo, you'll gain little space by redoing the roof supports and vaulting the ceiling, which is expensive work.

 

I'd look at lowering the floor as previously recommended is I were really serious about it.

[mjforn]

Just looking at the outside elevation, you will not be able to get a full swing in. Unless you plan on removing the roof and adding 2 feet to the walls then redoing the roof. 

How skilled are you?