Truss modifications
Truss modifications
(OP)
So... I was a carpenter/builder by trade (all phases residential) before becoming a software engineer. Recently bought a house, and low and behold, there's enough room in the storage above the garage for a nice size office. It has engineered trusses, and modifying the longest strut is a no-brainer (giving me a 9'x14' office)... but I'd like to push it a bit further giving me a 12'x14' space. Rendering of the truss is as follows (forgive the lack of graphics). On the left is the original design, on the right, how I'd like ot modify it....
//\\
/ / \ \
/ / -----\ <---proposed horizontal
/ / \ <--- proposed vertical
/ / |\
//\ / |/\\
/ / \/ | \ \
-----------------------------
| |
|_| <-proposed Glulam
|----------23'----------|
Essentially, I intend to use a 3.5"x12" Glulam the width of the garage (20'W x23'L - supporting wall to supporting wall), and 2"x6" replacements for the 2"x4" struts, though vertical/horizontal vs. diagonal... and through-bolting into the roof joists and ceiling joists the 2"x6" supports, then removing the diagonal engineered supports.
My entire office load is easily under 2,000#'s... is this a reasonable reconstruction?
Thx,
Les
//\\
/ / \ \
/ / -----\ <---proposed horizontal
/ / \ <--- proposed vertical
/ / |\
//\ / |/\\
/ / \/ | \ \
-----------------------------
| |
|_| <-proposed Glulam
|----------23'----------|
Essentially, I intend to use a 3.5"x12" Glulam the width of the garage (20'W x23'L - supporting wall to supporting wall), and 2"x6" replacements for the 2"x4" struts, though vertical/horizontal vs. diagonal... and through-bolting into the roof joists and ceiling joists the 2"x6" supports, then removing the diagonal engineered supports.
My entire office load is easily under 2,000#'s... is this a reasonable reconstruction?
Thx,
Les





RE: Truss modifications
You haven't provided enough information for adequate response; however, these forums are not intended to do an overall design assessment of something like this.
Since you are modifying an existing structure and it involves code compliance and life safety, you should get a local structural engineer to take a look at it.
Ron
RE: Truss modifications
Les