*
Does anyone know of an online source for viewing standard wooden roof truss designs, dimensions and capacities? Alpine Engineering has a few sample tables, but with only 3 or 4 different designs. I’m trying to become better acquainted with trusses before I decide on a style. I’d like to be able to find out, for example, how much space I’ll get from an attic truss given my building’s dimensions.
Brian
Listeners write in about ambitious projects and sinking patios before asking questions about old house specialists, attic headroom, and home shops.
"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.
Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.
Start Free Trial NowGet instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.
Start Free Trial Now
Replies
*
A don't know of any online sources for what you ask for, and I doubt it could be done. There are millions of possible combinations for attic designs. There aren't any "standard designs".
I used to save a sealed drawing of every attic truss we built, in hopes it would save us time in the design process. After a year or 2 I simply had a thick folder of paper I didn't want to look through anymore.
You can figure out a lot just by using common sense. For instance - If you want a 26' truss at 8/12 you aren't going to get a room that's 8' tall. And you can't get a 24' wide room with a 2X10 bottom chord.
Is there a specific size of truss you're looking to use ? I'd be willing to give you a rough idea of what would work. But it might be better to go to a local truss company who's familiar with your codes and loading requirements.
*Ron,I suppose you're right about the infinite variations. I'm looking for a rough estimate of the attic space I'd get with an attic truss on a 12/12 slope roof with 20' form outer wall to outer wall. The problem I run into is that I don't have enough info about my final design to get anywhere with the truss people, so I can't find out enough about the trusses to come up with a final design!Brian
*On the roof as you describe your ridge is at 10'. Now if you can visulalize every 12" you go horizontal you loose a 12" of height. There is a lot of different things you can do. You can put in dormers. Unless I knew exactly what you intentions are both on the main floor and attic space and what you want your elevations to look like it a is just a guessing game.
*I'm not sure what you mean by " I don't have enough info about my final design to get anywhere with the truss people". We answer questions like this all the time - It's part of the job.I'll attach an example of a typical attic design I might use in this area. Maybe you can print it out and take it to your local truss company to use as a starting point.
*On the same subject: Has anyone used the pre-engineered (site built) trusses marketed by Trus Joist McMillan? They look pretty cool.
*Ron,That's exactly the kind of design I was hoping existed; most of the drawings of attic trusses I've seen didn't offer nearly the usable space your design shows. I figured that having an attic truss meant I was going to have to resign myself to a little rectangular tunnel down the middle.Thanks,Brian
*Brian - I wonder if whay you were looking at previously was a standard truss with "W" shaped webs, and extra load added for storage. I would call that a "storage truss". But that's just a regional name. Where are you located at ? I might be able to refer you to someone local.
*
Does anyone know of an online source for viewing standard wooden roof truss designs, dimensions and capacities? Alpine Engineering has a few sample tables, but with only 3 or 4 different designs. I'm trying to become better acquainted with trusses before I decide on a style. I'd like to be able to find out, for example, how much space I'll get from an attic truss given my building's dimensions.
Brian