Ways to maximise attic space when self-building

If you’re planning on self-building a timber frame home, it’s worth carefully considering how the attic space will be used before the design stage.

Designing the right truss for attic space will not only provide you with more living options, but it can also increase the value of your home. You might want to start by considering whether to use the attic as an extra bedroom, an office, a playroom or even just as organised storage space.

If you’re planning on installing solar panels, you may also want to allow space for a storage battery.

Even if you’re not yet sure how the space will be used, incorporating the right truss with open space will give you flexibility for the future.

Designing a timber frame house with the right roof truss

An attic truss is engineered differently from a standard roof truss. It is designed as part of a whole-house timber frame system which is fully manufactured off-site. Also, stairs to the attic space will need to be designed as part of the timber frame system.

A prefabricated attic truss will:

Reduce on-site labour costs
Reduce square metre build costs by optimising space from ground level to attic space
Be engineered to take the load of an extra room
Be instantly ready for the installation of floorboards and plasterboard and roof tiles
Be designed for installation of required plumbing and services
Add value to your home
Give you living space flexibility

Cantilever trusses

Roof trusses vary depending on the size and design of a building project. A cantilever truss will be used if say a bedroom or attic space has a balcony – the roof will overhang the balcony to provide cover.

A typical roof truss can be cantilevered at one end of the profile or both ends and will be structurally engineered for the designed cantilever distance.

Common roof trusses used for timber frame houses

Here are a few common types of roof trusses used when self-building:

King Post Truss: Used for small house and garage roofs up to 4.5M.

Queen Post Truss: Used for the majority of UK houses up to 6M.

Fink Truss: Commonly used for residential properties spanning up to 11M, large enough to house a water tank or solar battery.

Double W: Mostly used for large properties or commercial buildings spanning 16M.

Attic Truss: Designed with central useable room space.

There are many other types of roof trusses including mono trusses for hip ends and corridors.

Please get in touch with our design team to learn more about roof truss design and how to best to utilise the attic space in a timber frame house, or to ask any other questions about timber frame housebuilding.