Truss-free answer?

3 December 2012

I am a skilled joiner but have never tackled a full roof on my own. My new project will need roofing next month when the bricky will be up to wall plate, and I am trying to find some advice. I don’t want to put in a trussed system as I would like to put a room in the roof, or at least give the property a design edge with a star-gaze room. Is this possible?

Answers

This question can only be answered by the architect or architectural technologist who prepared the plans on your behalf. Fundamental issues come into play, such as the availability of load-bearing internal walls right down to foundation level or steel beams in certain locations where a wall is not available. If your drawings show a standard trussed rafter system it is likely that no allowance has been made for a traditional cut roof alternative. You could consider attic trusses which, depending on the length of span, may be able to span the upper floor without internal support – although this method would not give you a vaulted “star-gaze” ceiling to the first floor. Given that the property will be at plate within the next few weeks, I suspect that you will be unable to resolve this now without delaying the progress of your build.

3 December 2012

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