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.

Finishing attic space with trusses.

If you have trusses it will be next to impossible to reconfigure them to allow for clear space. This is the end wall of the attic above my garage. You can t simply cut out or alter these supports without seriously undermining the integrity of the roof structure. This framing style typically provides the most open space in an attic.

By contrast conventional trusses have supports called webbing that zigzag through the attic space. If you have this type of roof framing you cannot finish your attic without rebuilding the roof. Newer truss framed roofs are made with prefabricated trusses. Ironically though it s the rafters that provide a better environment for an attic conversion because of the clear space.

If your attic joists won t bear the weight necessary to finish out a living space but the engineer cleared them to support floor decking for light storage you can install inch plywood or. I didn t build this house but the architect did everyone a favor by making the vast space above the 40 foot long garage out of attic trusses. Trusses are considered a superior method of framing a roof because of the additional support. Trusses w shaped framing that supports the roof make things harder.