Finishing Attic Space With Trusses

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.

Finishing attic space with trusses.

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. I have this above my own garage. Trusses are considered a superior method of framing a roof because of the additional support. Newer truss framed roofs are made with prefabricated trusses.

If you have trusses it will be next to impossible to reconfigure them to allow for clear space. Install new rolled insulation between the wall studs. 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. 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.

This framing style typically provides the most open space in an attic. The trusses are double cantilever style. 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. 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.

If you have this type of roof framing you cannot finish your attic without rebuilding the roof. Cut each strip or batt to the exact length of the cavity. When done without proper planning or adherence to local building codes it can actually reduce the value of your home or stall a sale. Often a rectangular size space is created inside the overall large triangle of the truss.

Install the rolled insulation in the floor by cutting to size pressing into the space between joists and attaching with wire fasteners. Press them in place and staple through the paper to the studs. Measure the width of your roof trusses from inside to inside. The sad fact is your builder could have installed attic trusses over this garage for just slightly more than what the existing trusses cost.

Look at this photo of the space created by attic trusses at my home. Attic trusses have a rectangular shape inside each truss. 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. These trusses are often called light storage trusses.

By contrast conventional trusses have supports called webbing that zigzag through the attic space. Finishing your attic can add space and utility and increase the value of your home as long as it s done properly. If you just desire storage space in an trussed attic that is also possible. Ironically though it s the rafters that provide a better environment for an attic conversion because of the clear space.

The height of the interior box within the storage truss is usually never over 5 feet high.