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10-07-2009, 01:50 PM
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 #1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: United States
Posts: 21
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Changing trusses to regular attic
My house is 2000 sq. ft. and has trusses with an 8-pitch roof. With that roof pitch, I could have a huge attic-upstairs if not for all the braces that go along with the trusses. Is there any was a truss system can be rebuilt to a normal attic space without tearing them off. Could I put down 2 by 10 floor joists beside the existing truss joists and put 2 by 6 rafters along side the existing rafters and gradually remove the truss braces as I construct the regular brace system? |
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10-07-2009, 03:20 PM
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#2
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Housebroken
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: CT
Posts: 2,398
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well
Only an engineer can steer that boat ....but it does sound possible. Contact one in your area for some advice on what you would like to do.It will be worth the couple hundred bucks to help explain what you did when you sell the house someday, because that will come up on an inspection. 
__________________
 IT IS WHAT IT IS.
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10-08-2009, 12:27 PM
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#3
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Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: United States
Posts: 21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by inspectorD
Only an engineer can steer that boat ....but it does sound possible. Contact one in your area for some advice on what you would like to do.It will be worth the couple hundred bucks to help explain what you did when you sell the house someday, because that will come up on an inspection. |
I assume in getting an engineer that it wouldn't be a "do it yourself" project. I guess the cost would be ridiculous and might as well just build a new house instead of redoing the trusses.
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10-08-2009, 12:53 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: US
Posts: 477
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It could be DIY if you have the right skills. I would still consult an engineer or an architect for some plans. The base chord of the truss is only meant to hold the ceiling below. You wouldnt need to rebuild your house but it could, in some circumstances, make sense to take the whole roof/trusses off in the section you want converted to living space.
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10-08-2009, 03:22 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Panama City, FL
Posts: 356
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I'm an engineer and I don't see why you couldn't convert your truss system to something like the "Open Plan" or "Storage" shown in the attached picture.
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10-08-2009, 03:25 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Panama City, FL
Posts: 356
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Quote:
Originally Posted by handyguys
... The base chord of the truss is only meant to hold the ceiling below...
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It does more than that! It's the main reason the roof doesn't fall flat onto the lower part of the building and the reason the tops of the walls don't spread apart. They are in tension from the roof load and help carry the vertical load down through the walls.
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10-08-2009, 03:47 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: US
Posts: 477
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CraigFL
It does more than that! It's the main reason the roof doesn't fall flat onto the lower part of the building and the reason the tops of the walls don't spread apart. They are in tension from the roof load and help carry the vertical load down through the walls.
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Yeah, of course they do! I was over simplifying to make my point that the bottom chord, as is, was not engineered for the live load of a living space.
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10-08-2009, 03:49 PM
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#8
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Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: United States
Posts: 21
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Thanks for the information. I built a new home about 5 years ago and used trusses; I would never do that again. I suppose it was faster and a lot of people talked about how great they were, but oh my, what a waste of space!!
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10-09-2009, 05:56 PM
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#9
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Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: United States
Posts: 21
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I wonder what the cost of a project like this would be with a rectangular, 2000 sq.feet. home?
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10-10-2009, 03:49 AM
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#10
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Cork Flooring Pros
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: USA
Posts: 75
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Quote:
Originally Posted by house92
I wonder what the cost of a project like this would be with a rectangular, 2000 sq.feet. home?
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Get a free estimate, you can view the parts\supplies cost 
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