Cutting Trusses For Attic Stairs

A truss functions as an interlocking system of framing members joined by gussets or metal connectors.

Cutting trusses for attic stairs.

Let s compare common roof trusses with the roof framing materials that were used in your parent s house. Your attic floor and roof are probably framed with either trusses or with individual rafters and floor joists. Your parents roof rafters were probably made from 2x8 s and could have been 2x10 s or. You can easily cut your ceiling joists and use the off cut if big enough to but end where the cut was and fix appropriately on the two adjoining joists trusses whatever.

Currently there is limited attic storage on a plywood subfloor on the bottom chords accessed via a small hatch in a closet. Most common attic trusses for homes and garages are made with 2x4 s. We would like to install a fold down attic stair with a rough opening size of 25 5 in. The components cannot be cut or altered or you risk ruining the structural strength.

Furnaces are often located in attic areas. This is done to hold the bottom chord from pushing the wall out. While they look the same you probably didn t notice the subtle differences. X 54 in with the long dimension perpendicular to the trusses.

Lay a 4x8 3 4 sheet of plywood on each end of the truss on the bottom chord spanning to the two trusses on each side of the one to be cut. Our home has 2x4 roof trusses spanning 25 ft. I have never built a staircase to attic trusses only drop down stairs but i am planning on leaving one truss out and doubling the ones to ether side to create a 4 opening. Hello i am working on a project which i am using attic trusses to be used for a living space approximately 32 wide 10 12 pitch spaced 2 o c.