SERVICES
Renovations

Matching an Existing Truss
Trusses for an addition that extends an existing roofline will often be required to match the profile of the roof. In the case of a gable roof extended on the end the match will be exact or in the case of a roof intersecting on the side of an existing roof the new roof will have to match the facia height . In either case the measurements to achieve this match are the same. You will need to provide our truss designer with the measurements before a final truss drawing is produced. The drawing below shows the information that will be required. Have your carpenter take these measurements and provide them to us with your final building drawings. Unfortunately our staff are unable to do field measurements but they will be pleased to work with you to get the finished look you are expecting on your addition.

Removing a Bearing Wall in an Existing House:
Removal of an existing bearing wall to provide a more open plan for your house is a popular renovation project. The design of the beam to replace this bearing wall is a critical step in planning the project. The new beam can be below the existing ceiling line showing a "bulkhead" or raised flush with the ceiling and supporting the joists with hangers. Either way the most important step is to determine the correct size of the beam for the planned opening size. Your designer or carpenter will have to determine the direction and span of the floor joists being carried by the bearing wall from all the floor levels above the proposed opening. In addition the roof will need to be checked to see if it is carried by the bearing wall or if it "clear spans" the house. Stick framed roofs normally use interior bearing walls for support. Truss roofs normally clear span the house but in some designs interior walls are used to carry trusses or beams which support the roof. A qualified person should inspect the structure and provide us with a sketch of the floor and roof layout. Using this information our designers can size a LVL header to make your new layout possible.