Engineered trusses are definitely a solid choice, especially if you're looking for that extra attic space. I've seen plenty of storm damage cases, and honestly, engineered trusses hold up impressively well compared to traditional rafters. Sure, they cost a bit more upfront, but like you said, peace of mind is priceless when the wind picks up at 3 am... Glad yours already passed the storm test!
"engineered trusses hold up impressively well compared to traditional rafters."
Interesting point about engineered trusses being stronger during storms, hadn't really thought about it that way. But I'm curious—doesn't the extra attic space thing depend more on how the trusses are designed? When we bought our first home last year, the attic had engineered trusses, and honestly, the usable space was pretty limited because of all the diagonal supports running through. We ended up barely being able to store anything larger than a suitcase or two. Maybe it's just our specific setup or something?
Also, I've heard from a couple neighbors that modifying engineered trusses later (like if you ever want to renovate or expand your attic) can be tricky or even impossible without professional help or permits. Has anyone else run into this issue? Just wondering if traditional rafters might offer more flexibility down the line...
Also, I've heard from a couple neighbors that modifying engineered trusses later (like if you ever want to renovate or expand your attic) can be tricky or even impossible without professional help ...
You're right that engineered trusses can limit attic usability depending on their design. I've inspected homes where the diagonal webbing was extensive, making storage or future renovations challenging. But I'd gently push back on the idea that traditional rafters always offer more flexibility—rafters typically require additional structural support if you plan significant modifications later on. Either way, it's wise to consult a structural engineer before making changes, as both systems have their quirks and limitations.
Honestly, the truss vs. rafter debate is one of those classic DIY rabbit holes...and I've definitely fallen down it myself. When we bought our place, I was all about turning the attic into a sweet hangout spot—until I climbed up there and saw the maze of engineered trusses crisscrossing every square inch. It was like a spider web on steroids. 😂
But you're totally right about rafters not being a magic bullet either. My brother-in-law had rafters, thought he was golden, then realized halfway through his attic conversion that he needed to reinforce the entire floor structure to handle the extra weight. Talk about surprise expenses...
I guess the real question is—how much do you actually see yourself expanding or modifying down the line? If you're just thinking about storage or minor tweaks, you might be fine either way. But if you're dreaming of a full-blown attic suite or something, you might wanna seriously consider talking to a structural engineer sooner rather than later. Yeah, it's an extra step, but trust me, it'll save you from headaches (and wallet-aches) down the road.
Either way, don't stress too much. Both systems have their quirks, and every home project I've ever tackled had some kind of unexpected twist. It's practically a DIY tradition at this point. 😅
I've seen people get pretty creative even with trusses, actually. A tenant in one of our properties had the same spider-web truss setup you described. He ended up working with a structural engineer who showed him how to strategically modify a couple of trusses and reinforce others. It wasn't cheap or simple, but it wasn't impossible either. Just saying, don't completely rule out trusses for bigger projects...might just take a bit more creativity (and cash) than you'd planned.
