Using attic as a play area
#1
11-05-03, 09:05 AM
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Using attic as a play area
I have a very tall garage attic that was built with trusses. The area in the middle of the trusses is very open and tall. This attic connects to my sons bedroom. I would like to make this attic space into either a large closet or a fun room for my kids. The question is how do I support the room? Currenlty I am using the attic for storage, but I know if a room is finished out of the empty space, the trusses are not designed for the purpose. What can I do to modify these trusses to accept a closet\room?
Thanks
Thanks
#2
11-05-03, 09:20 AM
attic
You could put a beam with posts there in the garage under the ceiling. You dont say what the trusses are made out of there as far as the floor goesup there???
ED
ED
#3
11-05-03, 09:29 AM
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Looks like 2x4. I have thought about a beam and post, but wasn't sure if was the best way to add support. Now, if I did a beam and post, would I just run the one beam under the center of the truss, or would I create more of a box effect with more than one beam. My thought was, if I ran one beam that would surely support the center of the truss, but what about the knee wall area I would be building, would that outer sides of the walls need support also? This is why I thought I would need more than one beam.
Thanks
Thanks
#4
11-05-03, 10:49 AM
attic
Just out of the box here::: like how wide or how far out would the knee wall be? Dont know the load your going for but with one beam center then run 2x6 or 2x8 for the floor joist next to the2x4 truss to the knee walls and end the joist line there. ED
ED
#5
11-05-03, 10:53 AM
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Width would be about 10 ft. (so that would be 5 ft on either side of the beam). Can I simply nail the floor joist to the truss?
#6
11-05-03, 11:01 AM
joist
for 5' each side of beam Id go 2x6 and yes just nail them to the 2x4 truss there.Now if you have a drywall ceiling in the garage now. Dont forget to cut it out where the beam will be so the truss there set on the beam and not on the dry wall ED
ED
#8
11-05-03, 12:38 PM
beam
You can make your own or you can buy it.Use wood or steel posts .Ask at Home depot or lowes I dont have my book here now on the spans of beams for the 2x ? you need.I d put a post at the wall on each end and say one in the middle on a 20 ft that would be say 10'on each side of the post. ED
ED
#9
11-05-03, 12:41 PM
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I will have to find a way to calculate the span. This attic is above the garage and I don't what a post in the middle of the garage. Thanks for the suggestions.
