Modifying Trusses To Create An Attic Bedroom

Measure the width of your roof trusses from inside to inside.

Modifying trusses to create an attic bedroom.

Also if you decide to do this you must work hand in hand with a licensed structural engineer that s familiar with wood trusses. I have seen situations where someone wants to build a room in an attic that has existing trusses. The upper cords or rafters form the peak of the roof. The trusses are double cantilever style.

The easiest way to do this is by building a rafter system from inside the attic in the area to be modified. Click here to get free fast bids from local structural engineers who can help you modify your trusses. It s a 12 12 roof so that s a good 11 at the ridge which even with new floor joists and a 5 knee wall should be plenty of room for a nice space. You can modify the trusses but it s an enormous amount of work.

How to alter existing roof trusses for an attic room. A typical roof truss has six main parts. However this is not as easy as it sounds and it still requires some oversight input from an engineer. Replacing the standard w shaped trusses with steel beams across the length of the floor allows you to create a much larger and functional attic space for the house.

Because attic trusses require specific conditions to be met before they can be created we ll begin by drawing a simple structure that meets those requirements. The lower cord or joist forms the lower horizontal of the triangle supporting the attic floor and top floor s ceiling. I guarantee you he ll come up with a design that requires you to install a much larger bottom chord. Use a plumb bob on a string to find the point on the upper cords or rafters of your.

Measure in from the lower edge of the roof to a point 1 4 the width of the. Select file new planfrom the menu to open a new blank plan. The attic space is 22 on the side parallel to the trusses 28 on the other side. Trusses must be modified to allow room for attic space.