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2 different truss type?

line guy

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Nov 9, 2015
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upstate ny
Planning a 30x48 pole barn,can i put 8ft of attic truss and the rest be regular truss? Would like to have the back portion of barn for light storage, access would be just a ladder. Would i still be able to have a flush ceiling?
 
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NUTTSGT

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As long as they are the same pitch equalling the same height, no reason you can't. There are other members that have done the same to gain room for a lift or attic space like you want.
 

tomroblee

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Jan 11, 2006
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Indiapolis, IN
If I understand you correctly, you want a flat ceiling throughout the building with room-in-attic storage only over a small portion.

As NUTTSGT said, this shouldn't be any problem so long as the two types of trusses are an exact match. I'm assuming that the bottom cord of a room-in-attic truss will be larger than a normal truss since it has to be designed to carry more weight. This won't affect the ceiling height. It is possible that the top cords of the room-in-attic truss might also be larger than a normal truss. You should check with the manufacturer before you order to ensure that it won't affect the roof height.

Before you finalize your plans you need to consider what truss spacing you will use, the size of the attic access opening that you want, and the orientation of the attic access opening. For a pole barn without a ceiling or storage, 8' on center truss spacing is fine. If you want to add a ceiling, 2' or 4' spacing will make the job much easier. "Stock" attic trusses are generally designed for 2' on center spacing. However, 2' on center spacing limits you to a 22 1/2" wide attic access opening---which makes storing bulky objects awkward. If you were building a permanent stairway for attic trusses, you would normally create a wider opening and put heavier (or double) trusses on either side of the opening. You may want to do the same thing even if you are using a ladder for access just to allow for a bigger opening and/or changes at some future date.

For the little added cost involved, I would consider using attic trusses for the entire building (or at least for more than an 8' portion.

An attic truss is going to require a steep roof to gain height for a 7'+ ceiling. The added height will require more roofing materials as well as more expensive trusses. Depending on your needs, you might be satisfied with using storage trusses rather than attic trusses. (The only real difference is that storage trusses don't have to be as steep and will have less headroom.)
 

mbatarga

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Sep 14, 2005
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883
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GA
Certainly can - given the pitch is the same as NUTTSGT said. I've got scissor trusses over 18' and attic storage trusses over the other 42' on my 38' x 60'. With my 10' walls, that gives me about 14' of clearance in at the middle of the 18' section with plenty of clearance to install a lift.
 
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srleen2

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Oct 28, 2013
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85
Location
Orange County, NY
Building myself a 36 x 30 garage right now with 2/3 of the building attic trusses and the rest scissor type trusses for height for a lift and gable trusses at the ends of the bldg. The attic trusses are designed for 48" OC spacing between trusses.

With 8/12 pitch this gives me a 12' wide attic room with 7.5' height at the collar tie in the attic room. Drawing from the truss mfr attached.

To make up for the differences in width of the lumber in the top and bottom chords between the three different types of trusses i have, the mfr adds blocking at the heel to keep everything matching up.

Heres the build thread
 

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finn

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Mar 27, 2005
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The UP, God's country
Attic trusses aren't the same thing as storage trusses.

As long as the pitch is the same all 3 (common, scissors, and attic) should be compatible, but I'd check with the supplier or an online source.

Menards usually has PDF links to detailed specifications

Pole barn or energy heel trusses would most likely not be compatible with common trusses.
 
OP
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line guy

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Nov 9, 2015
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Location
upstate ny
Just the answers i was looking for. I will be asking these question to my contractor.thanks alot, great info here
 
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