Hello,
What actually provides the best strength (most strength per mass or however you want to express it), a flat truss with a smaller roof area and consequently lighter structure? Or a truss with a steep pitch but longer lumber and more roof area?
I'm planning to add a floor to the house because more space is needed, and a staircase to the existing attic already exists, so it seems like a cost-effective way to gain more space.
But I want to keep the complexity down to be able to do as much as possible myself, and one thing that complicates matters is the height itself. Everything becomes more difficult when it's done several meters up in the air. And the higher, the harder. Furthermore, it costs more to build higher.
So I simply want to keep the building height as low as possible. As a direct result of this, there will be sloped ceilings on the upper floor, but then the question is, how much slope? The flatter the roof, the more area on the upper floor.
When I've been in contact with firms that design and sell trusses, I feel that they're not very keen on answering questions. Instead, they prefer a quick case where they can design and sell, and then move on to the next. Understandably, of course...
So I'm seeking help here instead, so I know a bit of what I have to consider when I start sketching.
