How To Convert A Trussed Roof Loft

Measure the width of your roof trusses from inside to inside.

How to convert a trussed roof loft.

This process involves the installation and use of steel beams. Look at this photo of the space created by attic trusses at my home. Attic conversions are now possible by replacing the truss rafters with a shaped trusses or horizontal beams which in return create additional space. The main reason a trussed roof is harder to convert is because each of the structural timbers are essentially in place to hold up the roof.

Room in roof trusses can be craned into place to form the shell of a ready made new loft room with the insulation placed above the rafters for maximum thermal efficiency. A truss frame will occupy the majority of the space within the loft which means that the whole structure needs replacing if you decide to convert your attic. Attic trusses have a rectangular shape inside each truss. Use a chalk line to draw a line along the floor parallel to the lower edge of the roof from one end of the attic to the other on both sides.

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. In addition the design means the trusses occupy majority of the space within the loft therefore the whole structure will need strengthening if you decide to convert your loft. The beams are supported by the gable ends of the roof and replace the original wooden struts which are removed once the steel beams are in place. The usual way in which trussed loft conversions are carried out is to install steel joists across the width of the roof and running the full length of the roof.

If you want to convert your attic into a dormer loft so the floorspace would be more useful you can pay for another usd 22 000 at least. Often the height of the roof may be too low when constructed with truss rafters which means that it may need to be raised too. Remove the existing roof structure and replace it with a larger one. Measure in from the lower edge of the roof to a point 1 4 the width of the truss on either side of the attic.

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. Removal and rebuild of roof.