Originally my garage was open ceiling, previous owners covered it up with drywall. I have a access to the attic area, I took some of the measurements. Also my roof is hip style. With the start of the hip almost center over the garage. The rafters and joists are 2 x 4's forming the trusses. On each joists there is a 2x6 sistered to it. Running perpendicular to each joist there are 2x4's, every 12", nailed I guess to support the drywall. Also, 2 of the trusses have two "v" shape supports to the rafters. Between each joist is 4'. Is my attic structure sound enough to store holiday stuff and other not real heavy items? If I cay store anything, I was thinking laying flooring with supports being the 2x6's and not the actual joists.

I recently had my dry basement flood with an excessive rainfall. The hydrostatic pressure was forcing the water up through the cracks in the floor and around the floor and wall joints. However no water came in through any cracks in the wall. I found one source of the problem was improper drainage away from the foundation, my neighbors downspout was directing water right to my foundation. I plan on installing a linear drain between the two properties. A waterproofing contractor suggest that I install floor tile around the inside perimeter of my basement wall with weep holes from the footing which would run into a sump basin. My question is that knowing water follows the path of least resistance, would merely installing a basin in the lowest part of my basement and pumping the water out do the same job on relieving the pressure and prevent the finished part of the basement from being destroyed in the construction.