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 space is 12 feet wide and ceiling height is 8 feet. You can t simply cut out or alter these supports without seriously undermining the integrity of the roof structure. 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. Ironically though it s the rafters that provide a better environment for an attic conversion because of the clear space.

Trusses are considered a superior method of framing a roof because of the additional support. If you have trusses it will be next to impossible to reconfigure them to allow for clear space. Trusses w shaped framing that supports the roof make things harder. This framing style typically provides the most open space in an attic.

This is the end wall of the attic above my garage. 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. Newer truss framed roofs are made with prefabricated trusses. 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.