Attic Conversion Truss Roof

An attic truss is a type of roof truss with an open space at its bottom center to accommodate a living space with webbing above and on either side of this living space.

Attic conversion truss roof.

The structure must be wide enough and the roof steep enough to allow space for a loft area with attic rooms on either side of it. The attic space is 22 on the side parallel to the trusses 28 on the other side. Before work can begin a structural engineer will calculate the size of the steels required. The conversion from a trussed roof to a trussless roof simply involves the redistribution of the roofs weight from the trusses to beams running from gable to gable.

A loft conversion or an attic conversion is the process of transforming an empty attic space or loft into a functional room typically used as a bedroom office space a gym or storage space. Attic conversions are now possible by replacing the truss rafters with a shaped trusses or horizontal beams which in return create additional space. This process involves the installation and use of steel beams. 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.

Often loft conversion projects can end up being a disappointment as on completion the owner finds out that roof height is very limited and as a result the space ends up being rather pokey. In order to create an attic truss certain conditions must be met in the plan. Although once regarded as hard to convert on account of their relatively slender roof timbers typically only about 30 x 70mm many lofts of this type have been successfully converted. The role of the horizontal beam is to tie the truss together and carry the load that would otherwise be sustained by the support and vertical timber also known as the king post.

Most roofs built from the late 1960s onwards are of prefabricated trussed rafter construction with distinctive w shaped webbing. Looking back i was very lucky in that my roof had an unusually high 47 degree pitch and so there was lots of head room. However once a truss roof has been restructured and the loft converted they usually offer large spacious rooms which can be converted into excellent additional accommodation within your home. Not only this but the structural wooden support of the newly created attic room can lend truss loft conversions real character too.

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.