How high can I raise rafters in an A frame loft without weakening roof?
I want to create standing head room in an A frame loft to make a workshop. I would need to raise the rafters to within 2 feet of the apex. What could I do to strengthen the roof structure if I do this and still leave maximum floor space? At present there are no side pieces of wood it is a simple A shape ie. an inverted V and one cross piece (rafter) at about 5 feet from the floor.
The pieces holding the roof up are generally called rafters. The cross pieces tying the rafters together are commonly called braces. The best solution is to install a strong and “sufficient” header beam at right angles to the rafters and above the braces so that the ends of all the roof rafters are directly resting on the header. (And in turn, the header is supported at either end – as well as in the middle if the span is greater than 10 -12 feet – by posts which in turn are supported by a load bearing wall or equivalent reinforcement directly beneath each post – on the floor below.) Then insert shims where necessary to ensure that each rafter is positively supported by the header beam. Finally, each rafter must be attached to the header by proper sized nails or screws. Ditto for the header and the posts (again check your local building code to make sure your attachments are legal).
When you’re certain that the rafters (and roof) are being properly supported by the header then simply remove all the cross bracing, box in the header and presto: you’ve got a lot more headroom.
(This approach assumes there is enough clearance above the braces to install the header while the braces are still in place- which also means you will have to cut a hole in the exterior wall so the header can be slid into position above the braces. If you can’t do it this way, then you’ll have to install temporary supports in order to remove the braces in order to install the header. If this is the case, it’s no longer a simple job and you really ought to get professional assistance).
Btw, you must also make certain that the header and the support posts meet the building code for the roof load and the distance being spanned. The longer the span between support beams the stronger the header and posts must be. Good luck.
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