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Tray a 9’ ceiling

Gsauceman

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Oct 3, 2019
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New to the forum and all the post I could find was old and didn’t match what I’m looking for. Anyway, I am wanting a two post lift but need to open up a section in my ceiling 143” x 182”. I have standard manufactured attic style trusses allowing for second level in my garage. Has anyone ever modified this style truss? If so, how was it done. I plan on speaking with an engineer but have not located one as of yet. All info is welcome
 

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Falcon67

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I just put a "tray" in my shop for this purpose, but I built with regular rafters/joists and not trusses. So you'll have to consult an engineer to get a real good reading on this project IMHO.
 

firebirdparts

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Cutting the floor out of a rafter truss is going to require adding quite a bit of stuff there toward the bottom, but framing lumber is cheap. That super-steep building makes it all a lot easier to hold up the weight, but on the other hand the original trusses took advantage of that also.
 

K'ledgeBldr

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The most probable scenario...

Removing the attic trusses where you need the additional height and replacing them with scissor trusses that give you a vaulted ceiling. Trying to modify the existing is very time consuming, uses way more lumber than the "replacement scenario", and it wouldn't require a PE.
 
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Zen

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Muskegon, MI
Find out who manufactured the original trusses and go from there. Your best scenario is going thru them to have THEIR engineer take a look at it. Probably will involve a 2 piece scissor type truss set next to existing attic trusses and cut out what you need.
Will be involved but doable.
 

firebirdparts

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Hopefully they'll approve you fabbing up what you need. You can throw 2x4's in that window for $2 each, but an assembled scissors truss is not coming in.
 

larry4406

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Hopefully they'll approve you fabbing up what you need. You can throw 2x4's in that window for $2 each, but an assembled scissors truss is not coming in.

Agreed.

I had to convert a new construction 2 story house with a 2nd floor tray ceiling in the master bedroom and bath to a vaulted ceiling (first time build, a new model) using scissor trusses. Management pee'd all over the tray ceiling they had spec'd first time they walked thru the unit. Roof was on and shingled.

I had the truss designer design a two piece scissor truss with the vault configuration management liked. The design used the same web arrangements as the prior truss but the scissor truss was two pieces. We took out a triple window and brought the truss halves in and sistered them to the existing trusses and nailed per detail along the overlapping webs. There was a plywood splice detail to marry the two trusses together. Once all were in place and nailed off properly, several hours with a sawzall and all of the old tray roof detail was gone leaving the now vaulted roof in place.

Looked like hell but we had the "repair" detail with red stamps for the inspector. When the inspector walked in the house I handed him the truss drawings and stamped details and said you are going to want to see this...

As a different thought, my prior garage used attic trusses similar to yours. My garage had dormers for the attic. There were several identical attic trusses ganged together to form a girder truss. Then conventional in-fill framing was done between the girders. I had (2) dormers that were 8' wide and they had 3-ply girders flanking the dormer and (1) dormer that was 12' wide with 4-ply girders. My shop was 28' deep clear span. The wall studs below all stacked on the girders. Perhaps you could cut the nails on existing trusses and slide them over to mate with other trusses and form girder trusses followed by in-fill framing. Your roof sheathing nailing would be compromised so not sure how you would cope with that.
 

Falcon67

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Another possibility is to sister in full size rafters and rafters across the area where you would be removing/dismembering trusses. Again, you'd want expert advice on spacing and lumber sizing for the particulars.
 
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Gsauceman

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Oct 3, 2019
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Behind my house
I’ve spoken to an engineer and he came and looked at my trusses. I gave him the drawing I’ve enclosed in this reply showing him what I would like to do. The blue lines would be the add on and anything below the lowest blue lines would be cut out. He’s going to look it over and call me in a week or so. Not sure what he’s gonna draw up. The orange lines is how the truss look now.
 

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fourbyford

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Interesting project! In my opinion, your proposed solution looks like it will work.
Several years ago, I came up with a plan and helped my buddy do his ceiling. We raised an area approx 12' x 24' about 18" (maybe 2'... sorry, it was a long time ago)... albeit it was on conventional trusses. He was skeptical at first but it worked out great! Actually, the modified area is the most ridgid part of the roof...
Please keep us posted!
...D
 
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