Strengthening Existing Roof Trusses

How to strengthen trusses step 1.

Strengthening existing roof trusses.

2x4s spanning 28 with breaks are clearly not up to the task of holding up plywood and sleepers parenthetically not sure why sleepers seem like a good idea but i digress much less whatever stuff you and future occupants load. Your truss system is designed specifically to hold up the roof and to a lesser degree tie your walls together. Temporary bracing to accommodate the load of the existing roof boarding and roof materials. Measure the length and width of the truss.

Divide this measurement in two and mark the spot. Lay a 2 by 4 across the truss with its bottom end on the top edge of the lower cord and centered on the mark. At places where you have limited access to each side of the roof support such as the gable end of the house use. Using a caulking gun apply a 1 4 inch bead of wood adhesive along the intersection of the roof deck and the roof.

Cut the 2 by 4 in line. Standard size trusses are either 5 5 inches or 3 5 inches in width. Extra support for the trusses can be made by placing a 2 by 4 inch piece of lumber from each truss on one side to the truss on the other side high enough to provide head room but low enough to provide support for the trusses. Put on the adhesive as you would caulk.

Stiffen trusses by joining them with 2x4s running from one end of the house to the other. Most houses contain a weak link in the connection of the roof sheathing to the rafters or roof trusses making them vulnerable to loss of roof sheathing in severe. Apply construction adhesive along the edge of the truss to strengthen the connection to the plywood roof deck. 3 part of the existing rafter due for strengthening.

Trusses usually come in standard sizes but this is not always the case especially in older buildings. In this situation the walls of a finished attic space or room would go with the roof line. Measure from the center of the truss to the outside corner.