28 or 26' attic/storage truss, how much room for storage???(PICS)

CTCorvette · Nov 20, 2011

I plan on submitting plans this week for a 28x34' garage

Town size limit is 1000sq/ft

TRUSSES???

1. looks like the attic truss will get some decent storage space up top, am I just being lazy to avoid rafters?? I've got a 5 man crew with much more experience than myself to complete the project(a few are prior framers)

2. Pitch w/ 'attic truss', looks like the higher roof will look much better also

Basically a 28x34/35 box with trusses on top; 9x8 garage doors

Also, looking for a 10' ceiling; cars lifted will be C5/6 Corvettes, <4' tall when picking up by the frame rail, at 6'2" I may not be able to walk under the car, but will still be able to do typical drivetrain swaps with ease

Here are some pics of a C5 drivetrain drop and a 65 at my uncle's shop, Bendpak ACX10(nothing to do with trusses, obviously)

CTCorvette · Nov 20, 2011

this is what I'm talking about, I guess you lose about a few feet on each side vs. rafters??

ForceFed70 · Nov 20, 2011

In my area, anything over a 14' span needed an engineered truss/drawing. But we have snow loads, etc to consider.

Pre-built trusses sure are nice, but they are also costly. My trusses cost more than all of the rest of the building lumber (including OSB sheathing) put together.

The higher the pitch, the more headroom you will have. Check with your truss designer. With only 28' long truss you are going to need to go at least 6/12 to get a decent head room.

70redbee · Nov 20, 2011

If you plan a lift 12' ceiling is a must for clearance and the attic trusses are a great idea. You can get a lot of storage that way at a minumin cost. Attic trusses are not really as expensive as everyone wants to believe.

Stuart in MN · Nov 20, 2011

My garage is 24 x 40, with a 10/12 pitch roof and attic trusses. The space upstairs is 12 feet wide by about 7 feet high (the photo below is during construction, the floor hadn't been installed yet.) I built the garage nearly 15 years ago so I don't recall how much the trusses cost (plus the price would be out of date anyway) but they weren't all that much more than regular trusses. Plus, you have to remember they go up faster than regular rafters so the extra cost is offset somewhat by less labor.

CTCorvette · Nov 20, 2011

Stuart, that shop is Outstanding!!! the roofline is the same as my 1918 house(small hip area) that would give me over 400sq of storage space

cranejon · Nov 20, 2011

Ask the truss designer for the floor load on the attic truss. Don't think you are getting a strong upstairs...Light loads are ok, but heavy furniture/storage is out. Don 't ask me how I know.

jrhaines2 · Nov 20, 2011

I have 32' gambrel trusses and they were $145 each.You can find some information here: http://www.apmbuildings.com/attic-storage-truss.shtml

PhantomEB · Nov 20, 2011

I keep tellin myself I gonna go with 2/3 scissor trusses and 1/3rd 2x6 trusses for storage... but now I likin the looks of the steeper pitch roofs better.

jrhaines2 · Nov 20, 2011

I lover the extra storage.I have 16' x 48' x 8 storage space.I have a scissor lift I am installing in the floor that will lift items to the second floor.

They asked if I would be using the storage for hay as they would make the trusses substantially stronger.

Daniel Dudley · Nov 20, 2011

It would cost you more to frame it, because you would need some big lumber to make those spans. I have done both. In your case, trusses make sense, IMO.

Dave Maxwell · Nov 20, 2011

Tried to get attic trusses for my 42x72. They won't go any bigger than 36 here. Plus the price. 42x72 is average 32,000 with 14 walls. 36x78x10 with attic trusses is 50,000

rburke65 · Nov 20, 2011

But we don't know where " here" is......

Dave Maxwell · Nov 20, 2011

Ooops sorry. Peoria Illinois

rburke65 · Nov 20, 2011

I had prices quoted in March,2011 from Carter lumber for 6/12 common truss for a 32'x 56' garage.....4' OC with a one foot overhang on all 4 sides (15 trusses) for $1260. Also was quoted, same dimentions, a price with an attic truss, 8/12 pitch, 2'OC, 27 trusses, for m$4,444. I would gain an attic space of approx. 16'x56'x7 foot high. So I would have gained 896 sq. ft. Of floor/storage space for $3.55 a square foot. Which is a beautiful thing.....IF you have the extra 3,184 dollars in your pocket. Oh....did you say you wanted a set of steps to get up to the attic? $$$$$$$ Oh, did you say you wanted a floor in the attic?$$$$$$$$$. Oh, did you want lighting in the attic? $$$$$$$. And so it goes. It all sounds good till you get the estimate. This is why you take YOUR guess at what this is going to cost ya, and then triple it. It's a disease I tell ya, a disease!

keen · Nov 20, 2011

To attic truss or not to attic truss.

YES!

let me find pics now that I've got the full floor in place.

keen · Nov 20, 2011

jrhaines2 said:
I have a scissor lift I am installing in the floor that will lift items to the second floor.

thread hijack - unless you have one - pics, details? I've had crummy luck finding something affordable to do the 13-14ft lift I need to get to mine (but I've got a nice place for it, where the stairs turn left)

hockey88fan · Nov 21, 2011

Consider this design for attic truss , $230 a piece, I only lost 2 foot on each end. For the knee walls you can go up to 5' which is what I did, makes for a big room. 27 trusses up in less than 2 hours.

jrhaines2 · Nov 21, 2011

keen said:
thread hijack - unless you have one - pics, details? I've had crummy luck finding something affordable to do the 13-14ft lift I need to get to mine (but I've got a nice place for it, where the stairs turn left)

I have the lift,pit in the floor and opening in the ceiling but the lift is not in the pit at this time as I am waiting until the floor is finished before I install it.It is just a simple man lift that I am going to trim the fat off of.24' high and 700lb capacity that I picked up for $500 used.

CTCorvette · Nov 21, 2011

hockey88fan said:
Consider this design for attic truss , $230 a piece, I only lost 2 foot on each end. For the knee walls you can go up to 5' which is what I did, makes for a big room. 27 trusses up in less than 2 hours.

that is awesome!! I just don't think it would fit will in my area for looks

Clay1969 · Dec 28, 2013

hockey88fan said:
Consider this design for attic truss , $230 a piece, I only lost 2 foot on each end. For the knee walls you can go up to 5' which is what I did, makes for a big room. 27 trusses up in less than 2 hours.

I was "talked into" a 4' knee wall by my framer because it would add a lot of attic space...then he left the area after the first 8 rafters went up. As it stands right now the roof system is supported by columns but I would like to open it up. Will this design work if retrofitted to 24' wide 10/12 pitch? BTW, the first floor is 2x6 studs with 2x10 ceiling joists on 16's, the knee wall is (cough) 4' high 2x4's on 16's with the roof being 2x8 rafters with 2x6 ties top and bottom (middle actually) and I think 2x4 cross bracing front, middle, and back. Its all done except figuring out how to brace the tails up so the roof doesn't push the knee wall out in the center without throwing a complete wall up here and there.

finn · Dec 28, 2013

A Storage truss and an attic truss are not the same thing, or at least they weren't the same when I built ay 32'X54' shop.

The attic truss had a higher load capability than the storage truss (can't remember how much more) but put the cost of the project over my budget cap. Since the cap was inflexible, I went with the storage truss and have been fine with it.

In fact, I find that the storage area really isn't useful to me as I have only drop down stairs (not willing to give up floor space for "real" stairs). The drop down stairs become an issue as you get older. Outside stairs aren't an option because of weather conditions (120 inches of snow so far).

Doug in NY · Dec 18, 2014

How high is the ceiling in the upstairs?

Doug in NY · Dec 18, 2014

Is it possible to but windows on the sides using a truss like this?

keen · Dec 18, 2014

Doug in NY said:
Is it possible to but windows on the sides using a truss like this?

Doug in NY said:
How high is the ceiling in the upstairs?

A bit more specifics? A number of designs have been discussed here...

In mine, I've got 8 foot from floor to the cross tie that would make up the ceiling, in the center 12' space. 30 foot wide overall, trusses are 10ft on center (one bay is 12..) across a 42 foot length.

From the 12x8 center section, the roof slopes sharply down, but gives an easy 20x10 of usable space in each bay, with the trusses making up walls at each 10ft between the bays.

For side windows - you could do skylights, or dormers. Dormers would give even more space.

Now, if you're doing a traditional truss on 2ft centers, instead of a post frame truss on 10ft centers, your usable attic space would be only that center section (in my case, that'd be a 12x42x8). Dormers would help, but would require more engineering.

mfediw10 · May 8, 2016

hockey88fan said:
Consider this design for attic truss , $230 a piece, I only lost 2 foot on each end. For the knee walls you can go up to 5' which is what I did, makes for a big room. 27 trusses up in less than 2 hours.

This is amazing.

Do you happen to have more info on this? dimensions? or plans by chance?

mfediw10 · May 8, 2016

Stuart in MN said:
My garage is 24 x 40, with a 10/12 pitch roof and attic trusses. The space upstairs is 12 feet wide by about 7 feet high (the photo below is during construction, the floor hadn't been installed yet.) I built the garage nearly 15 years ago so I don't recall how much the trusses cost (plus the price would be out of date anyway) but they weren't all that much more than regular trusses. Plus, you have to remember they go up faster than regular rafters so the extra cost is offset somewhat by less labor.

How tall is your garage?

28 or 26' attic/storage truss, how much room for storage???(PICS)

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