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Small Cabin Forum / Cabin Construction / Can I change my roof pitch?
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GoneCountry
Member
# Posted: 30 Aug 2024 04:46 - Edited by: GoneCountry
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Hello. We have a 1300 sq ft cabin with a 4/12 pitch roof. It's 25 ft wide and we are wanting to add about 8 ft of width to it to make it not so compact. We are also wanting to make it a 2 story with 12/12 pitch. I know there are other ways to add on but this is the look we want. I know the roof would need to be disassembled in sections for unpredictable weather reasons. I'm wondering if the existing sheetrock ceilings could be saved by leaving the bottom board of the existing trusses that the sheetrock is currently fastened to? And tear out all the rest of the trusses, decking etc. then carefully set the new 12/12 trusses down on the existing ceilings and fasten to the bottom board of the old truss that remains?

Brettny
Member
# Posted: 30 Aug 2024 11:19
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They would typically tear all that down to the top plate and start over saving next to nothing they removed.

gcrank1
Member
# Posted: 30 Aug 2024 12:53
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Imo, to 'save the ceiling, it would be way to fuzty and add time and complexity to what needs to be a fairly quick up-build.
I say this as someone who has tried to save too much in remodeling........

ICC
Member
# Posted: 30 Aug 2024 13:43 - Edited by: ICC
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Quoting: GoneCountry
I'm wondering if the existing sheetrock ceilings could be saved by leaving the bottom board of the existing trusses that the sheetrock is currently fastened to?

IMO, that would be foolish. In fact if you did find a contractor who would do that I would question his credentials. A truss is made of many components with many shorter web parts connecting to the longer main chords. A pair of metal nail plates are pressed in over both sides of every web piece that connects to the main chord (ceiling). Tht main chord may also have splices; splices that only work because the truss acts as a unit. That is to say the main chord may have splices that do not occur over supporting walls as would be needed when building a conventional rafter and ceiling joist roof.

By the time all those metal plates would be cut and the unwanted truss parts removed I'm pretty sure the existing ceiling would be showing damage. The ceiling chord would be sagging badly because the ceiling chord no longer has the other truss parts restraining sag.

Have you considered having the existing roof unit lifted off the walls as a complete assembly? Then, upper-level floor trusses are installed on top of the lower-level walls, and new upper-level walls are installed. The existing roof is then lowered into place. We've done a couple of those.

GoneCountry
Member
# Posted: 1 Sep 2024 12:19 - Edited by: GoneCountry
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ICC, but I assume they would replace one truss at a time so that's why I asked. Saving the existing ceilings isn't that important to me so no worries there...just thought it might save some sheetrock labor but I didn't really expect it to work.
I don't think it'd be possible to reuse the roof unit as a whole since I'm going with a completely different roof pitch???

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