How to Replace Trusses for a Garage

Reasons

• Replacing garage roof trusses can be necessary in several situations. If your trusses are damaged in a fire or rotted due to a leaking garage roof they won't be able to supply the structural integrity they need to. Even if your garage roof trusses are in good condition, you can replace them to raise the ceiling height inside your garage to add storage, install a lift or put in an automatic garage door.

Process

• The process of replacing garage roof trusses begins with removing the entire roof assembly. If your garage has a finished drywall ceiling, you'll also need to remove at least a portion of it to gain access to the trusses from below. To keep the garage structurally sound you must remove the trusses in sections and replace them as you go rather than removing all of the trusses before installing new ones.

Considerations

• The construction methods used when your garage was built will determine exactly how you go about replacing roof trusses. For example, if your garage has a front fascia, you will need to replace this as well unless you use new trusses that are the same size as those you remove. You may also need to alter the gutter system or install new shingles to connect the new garage roof to the roof of your home, if these are directly adjacent to one another.

Installing Joists

• You can replace garage roof trusses with floor joists for certain types of projects. This is an option if you plan to add living space above the garage, or a finished attic for storage. Floor joists still allow you to hang a drywall ceiling in the garage and provide a solid support for people to walk in the space above the garage. Floor joists that provide a garage ceiling are the same as those that form a basement ceiling and support the floor of the living space above.