Remodeling an old house that has 2×4 roof rafters 4′ on center- rafters are close to 12′ long with 1×6 trusses, 1×6 king post type, there is NO ridge board.Ceiling joists are 2×6 4′ on center that span 19′. Not sure of roof pitch but it is pretty flat, distance from top of ceiling joist to peak of ridge is less than 4′. This house is on the east end of Long Island {snow + windy} and has been there since the late 1930’s- I think it was moved there may have been an old army barracks. I will be exposing 2 of the trusses over the livingroom and creating a loft over 2 bedrooms on the one end of the house. 1-Will sistering up the 2×4’s with 2×6’s and adding additional 2×6 roof rafters at 24″ OC be adequate? 2- I would like to remove the 2 trusses in loft area and put in kneewalls 3 or 4′ from outer wall and collar ties as high as possible, possibly within 1′ of peak sort of a modified queen post..any thoughts?
Discussion Forum
Discussion Forum
Up Next
Video Shorts
Featured Story
The Trim Coil Holder from InnovaTools makes it easy to swap out trim coil and features a reversible, built-in guillotine cutter.
Featured Video
Highlights
Fine Homebuilding Magazine
Fine Home Building
Follow
-
Fine Homebuilding
Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.
Start Free Trial Now -
GBA Prime
Get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.
Start Free Trial Now
- Home Group
- Antique Trader
- Arts & Crafts Homes
- Bank Note Reporter
- Cabin Life
- Cuisine at Home
- Fine Gardening
- Fine Woodworking
- Green Building Advisor
- Garden Gate
- Horticulture
- Keep Craft Alive
- Log Home Living
- Military Trader/Vehicles
- Numismatic News
- Numismaster
- Old Cars Weekly
- Old House Journal
- Period Homes
- Popular Woodworking
- Script
- ShopNotes
- Sports Collectors Digest
- Threads
- Timber Home Living
- Traditional Building
- Woodsmith
- World Coin News
- Writer's Digest
Replies
Basically, the existing structure is hanging together out of habit. You touch it and you will have problems.
You're probably better off replacing the entire roof, given the changes you want to make.
What do we think? Time to call a structural engineer... Seriously whatever you do will be an improvement over what you are dealing with but you want a comprehensive design that takes the whole place into account.
Adding 2x6s next to the rafters will do absolutely nothing. You need to either add a ridge board and correctly sized rafters, some sort of truss, or new rafters with ceiling joists to tie them together.
All of that has to be designed with your local codes and loading in mind. That's not something you can get from a message board on the internet.
Think longterm
Q: Will you need a building permit? If so, you will face lots of hurdles trying to satisfy Building Code.
Q: Are you primarily interested in meeting your own needs/wants, or are you also interested in preserving a jewel-in-the-rough?
The scant details you offer suggest to me that you are dealing with lots of sags and heaves; that sistering new rafters and ceiling joists into place is not going to straighten things out. Please attach some photos. Thanks. Your brief discription of the building suggests to me that the whole roof, shingles, sheathing and rafters, need to be torn off. You will need to evaluate the load-worthiness of walls and foundation. 24" oc. spacing is not ideal for the demands we place on today's structures. I encourage you to aproach your project with thoughtfulness and care. And...um...with money in the pocket. This is gonna co$t you!! Good luck.