Finishing Attic Space With Trusses

By contrast conventional trusses have supports called webbing that zigzag through the attic space.

Finishing attic space with trusses.

The trusses are double cantilever style. If you have this type of roof framing you cannot finish your attic without rebuilding the roof. The sad fact is your builder could have installed attic trusses over this garage for just slightly more than what the existing trusses cost. I have this above my own garage.

Press them in place and staple through the paper to the studs. Attic floors generally need to be reinforced with additional joists and a subfloor. Measure in from the lower edge of the roof to a point 1 4 the width of the truss on either side of the attic. The lyons used a web of 16 inch deep engineered trusses to accommodate wiring plumbing and ductwork then topped the plywood subfloor with oak or tile.

Trusses are like big structural triangles that have angled top pieces that serve as rafters horizontal pieces that serve as floor joists and interconnecting web pieces that give the triangle strength. Look at this photo of the space created by attic trusses at my home. Attic trusses have a rectangular shape inside each truss. Often a rectangular size space is created inside the overall large triangle of the truss.

Measure the width of your roof trusses from inside to inside. The attic space is 22 on the side parallel to the trusses 28 on the other side. These trusses are often called light storage trusses. When done without proper planning or adherence to local building codes it can actually reduce the value of your home or stall a sale.

Trusses are considered a superior method of framing a roof because of the additional support. Finishing your attic can add space and utility and increase the value of your home as long as it s done properly. If the roof slope is steeper than 9 inches in 12 inches of run it doesn t take much width to end up with a nice room 12 feet wide with an 8 foot ceiling. Newer truss framed roofs are made with prefabricated trusses.

Cut each strip or batt to the exact length of the cavity. The height of the interior box within the storage truss is usually never over 5 feet high. Use a chalk line to draw a line along the floor parallel to the lower edge of the roof from one end of the attic to the other on both sides. Install the rolled insulation in the floor by cutting to size pressing into the space between joists and attaching with wire fasteners.

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. If you ve measured your attic space and feel you have enough room to accommodate living space chances are you have rafters or you have special trusses called attic trusses which create a large open space under the peak of the roof. If you just desire storage space in an trussed attic that is also possible. Install new rolled insulation between the wall studs.

Ironically though it s the rafters that provide a better environment for an attic conversion because of the clear space.