Attic Support Structure

Certain conditions must be met before an attic truss can be built.

Attic support structure.

Extra support for the trusses can be made by placing a 2 by 4 inch piece of lumber from each truss on one side to the truss on the other side high enough to provide head room but low enough to provide support for the trusses. Typically ceiling joists are 2 6 or 2 8. This photo indicates a properly installed knee wall in a attic for additional support to roof structure. Homeowners cannot take chances with the structural integrity of their roofs.

If your roof is supported by w shaped trusses it will either be too expensive or practically impossible to create living space out of the attic. Once we look to make the attic livable space the existing ceiling joists usually will not meet the. Collar tie used for adding additional support to attic roof supports. More times than not the floor structure of an existing attic is actually a ceiling joist.

The red lines on the left side indicate the knee wall. If required by local code. This attic structure needs additional support and was most likely repaired by a non professional. They are designed to carry only the weight of the drywall or plaster depending on the age of your home.

Attic truss repair 01. The floor structure of an attic is also the framing for the ceiling beneath it. This is made up of ceiling joists typically 2x6 or larger boards. The structure should be sufficiently wide to allow for a loft and attic spaces the loft area must be on a living floor and have attic rooms on both sides separated by knee walls a flat ceiling in the loft area and a floor below steep enough roof pitch to provide appropriate ceiling height for the loft area.

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. Once the structure has passed the building inspection you can run electrical plumbing. How to brace rafters in an attic. Proper roof structure is a must the first requirement for an attic conversion is to have the right roof structure in place.

Flooring your attic is the best way to add space to your home at a low cost. The roof is subject to pressure placed on it by natural forces including snow rain.