Loft Conversion Roof Truss Modification

Often loft conversion projects can end up being a disappointment as on completion the owner finds out that roof height is very limited and as a result the space ends up being rather pokey.

Loft conversion roof truss modification.

Even though townhouse loft conversions have become extremely popular in the last couple of years the process of transforming a common truss into an attic truss isn t as easy as it may sound. The sad fact is your builder could have installed attic trusses over this garage for just slightly more than what the existing trusses cost. Roof trusses offer a quick and efficient alternative to a conventional timber roof but they re quite delicate when not in their fully braced vertical position. Attic trusses have a rectangular shape inside each truss.

Loft conversions add value and are an ideal way to invest in your home loft conversions frequently top national surveys for being the best method of increasing the value of a property. The lack of headroom in the existing roof space will be a further reason to alter the structure of the roof. According to the nationwide building society adding a loft conversion to your home can increase the value of an average property by more than 54 000. According to one recent survey by the nationwide building society adding an extra bedroom and bathroom to a three bed house can increase its value by as much as.

If the roof slope is steeper than 9 inches in 12 inches of run it doesn t take much width to end up with a nice room 12 feet wide with an 8 foot. They work through a combination of tension and compression to ensure that the timber chords and web sizes can be kept to a minimum and keep costs down. This coupled with the slightly more complex construction and restructuring needed means that converting a truss roof can be more expensive than a normal loft conversion. Because of the design of the truss frames the loft conversion may require a structural modification so if you have this kind of roof it is essential that professional structural engineers are consulted.

Having a home with a trussed roof design should in no way stop you from planning and building a successful loft conversion. Looking back i was very lucky in that my roof had an unusually high 47 degree pitch and so there was lots of head room. Added rafters and floor beams strengthen the current loft structure creating an open larger living area. The w shaped trusses are replaced with a shaped trusses or horizontal beams.

The main problem with raising the roof is that it requires planning permission and there s a fairly good chance this will be refused especially for terraced.