Greenhouses, Sheds and Sun Rooms - stick building the roof vs. trusses

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sdp321
07-30-08, 08:14 PM
Greetings all. For a 10x15 shed, if I want an attic can I stick frame the roof with a ridge beam and rafters, and use the accompanying ceiling joists for the attic floor decking? It seems like stick framing the roof would allow a larger attic than using attic trusses would. Am I way off?
Thanks,
SDP in Wisconsin


lefty
08-01-08, 04:36 PM
Go to a truss company (or a lumberyard that builds trusses), tell them what you want and get a quote. That's free, and it'll take them a couple of days to get it back to you. While you are waiting on that, design what you think will work and figure out the cost of the material needed to build it yourself. If you add NOTHING for your time, the trusses will be more expensive, but in all likelihood they will be stronger.

marksr
08-02-08, 04:08 AM
Unless you are planing on a real steep roof - there isn't going to be a lot of attic space in a 10'x15'.


sdp321
08-03-08, 09:18 PM
The roof will be (probably) a 12/12. I don't need to walk around up there - just store some patio chairs, pots, hoses, etc (summer stuff).

I just don't know if a beam with rafters, tied into 2x6's across the top plates is sufficient to deck an attic floor. A metal roof is all but certain.

Thanks for the feedback thus far.

marksr
08-04-08, 05:01 AM
I'm no engineer, or a carpenter but I would think what you propose would work providing you added collar ties to help hold the rafters together.

sdp321
08-04-08, 07:16 PM
Can collar ties actually be the ceiling joists that complete the triangle, and sit atop the top plates? Or, do the collar ties have to be up higher, for me to bump my head on?

marksr
08-05-08, 04:33 AM
I'd install them just below the ridge beam.