Rasing the ceiling

[coupe89]

Hello, 1st post

I have a new house/garage (6 months old)
I want to know if there is a way to rase the garage ceiling line.

Right now I'm at 9' and want to rase it to 10'

The joist are premade It looks like a long triangle with W beam. I was thinking of putting a couple of 2x4 at the 10' line and cut the 9' joist.

Is this a wise move or do I need to talk to someone....

 

[rotus7]

You really need to talk with someone before you make any changes like that. The prefab'ed joist were designed or spec'd specifically for you application. At most you need to talk with a structural engineer...at least you need to consult with a contractor with experience dealing with renovations/additions (such as 2nd story additons and such). I'm a construction management major...I can't answer your question but I know that when you start messing around with the structural aspect of your roof, you really need to consult a professional. You may even have to get a permit from your local jurisdiction to make changes like that. A good place to start may be with the city building inspector.

 

[bmwpower]

Umm. You can't do that. The trusses are designed to NOT be cut, drilled, etc. The end of each truss sits on the wall.

 

[Ken Greene]

yup those are trusses... best not to go cuttin on them. if you have deep pockets you could rip the roof off and replace them with new trusses that give you the hight you want. but like i said you need deep pockets.

Or for not so deep pockets hire an engineer to look into the possibility of changing the bottom cord of the truss . But that would still need to be performed my a licened and skilled carpenter.

 

[byrdman]

Trusses are carefully engineered. Hire someone to tell you what you can by with. Especially on your brand new house!

 

[Major Ramifications]

I wish I had a 9' ceiling!

 

[bmwpower]

Might be easier to lower the floor...

 

[coupe89]

I was just toying with the idea.
I also taked to a few engineers at work about it.
The 4" I actual want is more trouble then is worth.

I want to get my second toy under the first tow on the a 4 post lift. Just 4" shy....
And its only a 4' x 4' for the the roof of the to stick up...

Thanks for the replys

 

[Wile1Coyote]

If you are going to all that effort get a 12' ceiling height at least. You certainly do have the option of removing the center of some of those joists and having a box in your ceiling that is higher than the rest of the ceiling. Again you need to speak to a structural guy and a licensed carpenter but in theory this can be done without removing the top of the roof because you are only going to disturb about 4 joists. .02 Thinking of doing it myself actually as I have 6 feet of attic space I could really use over my hoist.

 

[danski0224]

If the garage is a separate structure, it can be raised. If it is attached, then it becomes more difficult.

You might be able to make your modifications after consulting a structural engineer. For a 4' square area, at most 4 trusses would be affected. Might be worth the visit.

 

[Major Ramifications]

Also, Coupe89, you don't need to buy a vowel here. They are free!

Feel free to put an I into the words raising, raise, raised, etc.

(just a friendly joke)

 

[coupe89]

I forgot to buy that vowel

Spelling was not my best subject. (No F7 here)

Its a detached garage.

 

[DynoDave]

A few years back, my folks traded from a travel trailer to a motorhome. Dad wanted to be able to keep it in the garage, so we stripped the shingles off the roof, carefully removed the plywood deck so we could reuse it, took down the rafters, added 3.5' walls on top of the existing walls, stood the rafters back in place, put the deck back on, and re-roofed it. Viola, plenty of interior height for the new coach. Of course, the next year, he decided to knock the back wall out and make it even deeper, but that's another story.