A garage is more than a place to park vehicles. It can also provide valuable space to store things that you can’t fit inside your house and would rather not keep in a shed. If you’re planning to build a new garage, you have an opportunity to create extra space to store belongings, and possibly even an entire finished room, depending on the type of trusses you select.
What Are Trusses?
Trusses are constructed with members arranged in a triangle and connected to each other. They are used in structural engineering to span long distances while minimizing the amount of building material required.
The triangular design makes the structure act as a single object and evenly distributes weight. The design of trusses controls the amount of force transferred from one member to another. Since a triangular structure is stable, trusses won’t bend or shear due to changes in tension and compression. Several types of trusses can be used, depending on the type of construction project and the customer’s objectives.
What Types of Trusses Can Be Used to Create Storage Space in a Garage?
If you want to minimize clutter in the garage and keep belongings out of sight, storage trusses are an excellent solution. They have an open area in the center and a floor that can support the additional weight of boxes and other types of objects.
Instead of struggling to figure out where to put shelves or how to hang tools and other items on walls, you can keep things that you don’t use on a regular basis in a separate storage area and have them easily accessible whenever you need them. Using storage trusses instead of standard trusses can give you extra storage space without significantly increasing the total cost of the construction project.
Building a garage with attic trusses can give you a whole room above the area where you park your vehicles. You can finish the room, install electricity and use it as a home office, a place for guests to stay or another purpose.
Attic trusses are much more expensive than standard trusses, but you may decide that the additional cost is worth it. The extra room can increase your home’s total square footage and its value.
If you decide to sell your house in the future, the living area above the garage may appeal to buyers who want a finished space separate from the rest of the house so they or their guests can have privacy. The room above the garage may make your home stand out from other houses that don’t have a similar space.
Which Type of Trusses Should You Choose?
Think about how you plan to use your garage. If you simply need extra space to store possessions and keep the garage from getting cluttered, storage trusses may be your best option. If you could benefit from having an extra room, attic trusses may make more sense. Discuss your options with your architect or builder.
