Modifying Garage Roof Trusses

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.

Modifying garage roof trusses.

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. Home owners should avoid cutting or modifying their roof trusses. Step 1 measure the width of your roof trusses from inside to inside. If you really want to modify the framing of your attic and roof then consult with a licensed professional structural engineer.

Click here to get free fast bids from local structural engineers who can help you modify your trusses. If you live in a house with engineered manufactured trusses then don t mess with them. Attic conversions are now possible by replacing the truss rafters with a shaped trusses or horizontal beams which in return create additional space. Position the 2 by 4 so that the mark you made is on its inside edge with the width of the board against the upper and lower cords on the outside of the mark toward the eaves.

Don t modify cut wood trusses. You can modify the trusses but it s an enormous amount of work. We looked at the structural arrangement of the garage and the surrounding area. My recommendation is really simple.

These trusses are usually engineered by a structural engineering company to carry a specific roof load. Also if you decide to do this you must work hand in hand with a licensed structural engineer that s familiar with wood trusses. Mark a line on each 2 by 4 at the top of the lower cord and the angled bottom of the upper cord. 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.