Attic Structural Support

Here we have a wood framed gable roof.

Attic structural support.

An attic bedroom requires both a window and a staircase to the level beneath. Floor beam span tables of residential structural design we will now look at roof rafter and beam design. External loads actions of other bodies that act on buildings cause internal forces forces and couples by the rest of the structure in. The image below shows a cross section of our simple 12 x 13 house from the joist span tables section of this tutorial.

Such roofs are built with mostly timber take a number of different shapes and are covered with a variety of materials. Here each square foot of roof system delivers 50 pounds of live load and 15 pounds of dead load 65 psf total to the structural support system. Before you take advantage of this storage space take some time to assess the potential space and the potential problems your attic may hold in store for you. This article describes and illustrates the different types of support that prevents roof sagging and wall bulging at buildings including definitions of collar ties rafter ties and structural ridge beams.

The structural framing beneath your roof rafters or trusses will determine if you can add an attic bedroom and what it might look like. Domestic roof construction is the framing and roof covering which is found on most detached houses in cold and temperate climates. Some of these can support the roof and prevent ridge sagging and wall spreading. Continuing on from part 3.

Attic storage is possible in most houses for stashing away a few boxes and empty suitcases. If the joists are larger they might support attic flooring but the only reliable way to know for sure is to have a structural engineer take a look at your attic support system. It s 16 2x6s on 24 center with a 1x6 at the peak no collar ties no vertical support depending on the roof pitch and rafter span vertical support may not be required on all roofs but you are correct the rafters are over spanned. Let s consider a basic gable wood roof framing design.

I called out insufficient structural support in this attic space what do you guys think. The exterior wall and the headers within will carry all loads from the mid point of the house between the. Having an escape ladder in clear view is always a good idea.