Hello everyone,
I’m new to the forum, and also a beginning “weekend warrior” when it comes to home projects.
I’m wondering what is the feasability of capturing the dead space over our garage. It’s recently been sheetrocked (ceiling of garage), and we have a drop-down stair for access. I think it’s just the trusses up there. If not for living, is there a simple way to strengthen the space for storage?
Thanks for any help.
TD
Replies
For construction information, try the Breaktime forum (2nd from the left in the list at the top of the page).
This forum mostly covers design-type information.
Leigh
Thanks for the tip,
TD
The biggest question is, are the trusses designed for this? If not, forget it.
Good point!
Thanks,
TD
I think it is important to elaboarte on what Cairo said since so many weekend wrriors have this idea or one similar to it. Too often folks weaken their roof stuctures by adding skylights and cutting truss members inappropriately.
A truss roof is a "system" of many parts designed and assembled to make one unit that works ina unified way. All m,embers are dependent on one another according to an engineered plan to support the loads for which it was intended.
Thus, if it was originally intended to support storage - as possibly implied by the access ladder - these trusses need no modifications to use in that way.
But if they were not so designed and intended, it is possible that any modification to strengthen one prtion can weaken another portion.
The only way to be sure is to have the system studied by an engineer with experience in truss design.
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