I have a hair brained idea that I think might work. Or could work. We’ll see what the board has to say.
My house is shaped like an L, and the part I want to add a second story is 16’x26′. Fairly basic deal there, then I thought I’d gang cut the roof 12/12 pitch or so. Then it pops into my head, I am always telling HO’s how much money they could save by lowering the pitch if they aren’t going to use it.
So then attic trusses came to mind, but at only 16′ wide there would be no room left after knee walls. Here’s the question on attic trusses they come with a 2x for the knee walls already built in, could that be used as the bearing point if engineered for it? THat would mean cantaleivering maybe 5′ or so past the plate.
I would cut the tails off plumb at the end of the bottom chord and use 2x subfascia. That would give me a 16′ wide room at the plates, well worth a little extra money.
Possible? I haven’t seen it done before, might be a pretty cool idea.
Matt
Replies
Boss Hog could work that up for you is a few minutes but if you go that way why not put a decent header out there on some posts and call it a covered porch, on both sides of the house... or cantilever out the third side too and have a wrap around porch. My wife would kill for a wrap around porch.
You end up with a killer room up top, too.
I was just wondering if it was possible. I can't remember what I was told about truss cantalievers so far as distance from the plate. They usually have beams so cantanlievers aren't needed.
I thought about the porch idea and have another hair brained idea for that. Here goes, I'll set all the attic trusses and then build the end walls for the gables 6' in from each end of the house, third floor walkout porch at each end of the house, killer idea or what?
I just need to work out the waterproofing details for that one.
Matt
Your truss idea for the attic room is doable."Poor is not the person who has too little, but the person who craves more."...Seneca
I have had trusses built (Mono style) that canted out 12' and were within the building line by 8'.
Not typical , but it can be done."Poor is not the person who has too little, but the person who craves more."...Seneca
I'm going to call my truss guy this morning and get him working on it.
Matt
No doubt what you suggested would work. It's just a question of getting the details ironed out.
Another option would be to make a 16' attic truss with a really tall heel and NOT cantilever it. You couldn't get a 16' wide room. But then you wouldn't have to make the 5' cantilever look right either. (I'm concerned that they might look kinda odd)
If you want me to I'll draw up a couple of ideas and post 'em...
If you have a minute I'd like to see what you are thinking. A tall heel sounds good to me. I have used those before on attic trusses.
But I do like the idea of a big overhang as well, I still have to check on property setbacks here too. That may be the deciding factor on a big overhang or a tall heel.
Have you seen anything like my porch idea before? Attic trusses end to end and the gable walls set back for a small walkout porch. The bottoms of the top chords would get soffitt. And a railing across from the knee wall to knee wall.
Matt
stilletto, I am curious where you get your trusses from . My younger brother worked for a large plant west of Detroit for a lot of years. Just wonder if you may have dealt with the company."Poor is not the person who has too little, but the person who craves more."...Seneca
I get my trusses from Big C Lumber in Schoolcraft MI. Big C bought my old truss plant (Michiana Truss CO.) that I used to use and they hired the old owner as a saleman. I still call and get prices direct from the factory. I love being able to do that.
What company did your brother work for?
Matt
Stilletto, He worked for Century Truss. I think he mostly dealt with commercial accounts but am not certain of that."Poor is not the person who has too little, but the person who craves more."...Seneca
I haven't heard of Century Truss before. Might be a commercial company. If they were in residential I probably would have used them at least once by now.
Matt
Today I saw a Century Truss delivery truck. Reminded me of this thread.
I saw it over by Detroit. I had to shingle a house today over there.
Matt
Hey thanks for that bit of info. Made me think of my brother . Reminded me I owe him a call.
"Poor is not the person who has too little, but the person who craves more."...Seneca
You should find a coulpe of PDF files attached. I took a quick shot at a couple of designs. You'll notice the cantilevered one is piggybacked due to it's height.If ya want me to try anything different let me know.
By working faithfully eight hours a day you may eventually get to work twelve hours a day. [Robert Frost]
Thanks alot Boss, I appreciate you taking the time to draw them out for me. Having a truss designer around here is awesome. Those drawings are more than enough to get my ideas in motion.
Now I got to get a price on them, and figure out my setbacks. The later will determine which one I go with.
Matt