Replacing Roof Rafters With Trusses

After you have the support beams in place the next step is to reinforce the roof rafters and install any additional rafters from the support header to your sidewalls.

Replacing roof rafters with trusses.

The trussed rafters loft conversion process is a cost effective method of adding more volume and value to your property provided you re not in any violation of building codes in your area. When a truss becomes damaged cut or modified there is a chance of a structural overload or that they will not perform properly. One use of trusses is for the support of a roof they are similar to roof rafters. One popular way to support your roof without roof trusses is stick framing.

They make ones like this for exactly the application i am discussing. Use your tape measure to record the distance of both rafter legs. They re an excellent way to provide support for a roof but can make extending or changing the shape of your home a much bigger job. Once all the aluminium floor beams and the wooden roof rafters were in place and secured the middle sections of all the old roof trusses were cut out to reveal an amazingly large open space.

Next wooden rafters were pulled up to the roof space and used to strengthen the existing roof rafters under the tiles. 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. Measure the dimensions of the old rafters beneath your roofing surface. Trusses usually have webbing throughout which is what gives them their high strength with little material.

Repeat the process for the joist beneath your old roof rafter. If you want useable space inside the roof you re usually better off with rafters as there s no webbing to get in the way. Home owners should avoid cutting or modifying their roof trusses. Trusses can fill the space within your roof and replacing them with another type of roof support can allow you to utilize your loft space.

Use a circular saw to cut two sets of new rafters from the same size wood by the same dimensions. These trusses are usually engineered by a structural engineering company to carry a specific roof load.