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USe garage roof space ?

I have been asked if I can put an upper floor in a garage with an assymmetrical pitched roof and modern roof trusses i.e. one big triangle and bracing timbers to make more triangles. The horizontal timbers are only 70mm wide (the biggest dimension) and the trusses are 600mm centres. Trusses are about 4m long, 3 of them evenly spaced in the width of the garage( 2.4m)

If I put a beam in the centre under the trusses, supported it at the ends and strapped it to each truss, would the trusses then be strong enough to support a floor ?

I'm thinking 12mm ply or sterling/OSB as the space will be used for storing light items, not as a living space. Is here a structural engineer or builder who can advise please ? i.e. what size beam. I'm thinking to floor about 1metre at each end and leave a 2m gap in the middle.

3 Answers

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  • 5 years ago
    Favorite Answer

    a proper truss has no space for any flooring ...but you can buy an attic truss ...these are made with a hole in the middle ..but the actual timbers are thicker ...and if your putting a floor anywhere you do not use 600 centres ..too wide ..standard is 400mm 16"..and the floor needs to be 18mm-22mm thick ..with an attic truss you need no support underneath ..when you talk asymmetrical ..I think you mean its a hipped roof ....if so and its 4 hips then you will not get much floor area....what would have been useful to know was how much height between ceiling and ridge

  • XTX
    Lv 7
    5 years ago

    you need to have a carpenter assess what you have and how much weight will be above the cars === if you have a two car garage then it is necessary that the use of colums or supports for that ceiling and upper floor ... XTX

  • Anonymous
    5 years ago

    Why not check your local building codes for specs rather than we who are clueless. And in many places, the fire prevention and emission requirements prohibit the use you suggest.

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