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I am currently constructing a two-story home in Florida. My first floor ceiling height is 9’4.” Now, I am told by my builder that the air conditioning contractor advises that my laundary, butler’s pantry and food pantry will have to have only 8′ ceilings, because the a/c ductworks need the additional space. There are no chasers in these three rooms, which causes me to wonder if the truss company messed up the trusses to begin with (both the rooms on either side have chasers running the length of the home).
My buiilder tells me that the roof trusses cannot be cut. However, several other contractors with whom I am acquanted, including one who has been to the construction site, tell me that the trusses can be cut, but only with instructions by the truss company or an engineer.
My builder also tells me that even if the trusses are cut, it still will not give enough space, as the truss span is 11′ and the a/c contractor needs 12′.
What can be done?
Replies
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Hi Charles,
Ask your AC contractor for the supply requirements and run the information pass the truss manufacturer's rep. Maybe by splitting the run into 2 smaller feeds with spacing you could go through the trusses.
It doesn't hurt to check it out,
Gabe
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Since these are service rooms, what's the big deal about dropping the celing to 8 feet. The contractor will have an easier go of it, the work will be better and your system will probably be more efficient. It is always a mistake to scrimp on the amount of spacee alloted to mechanical functions in a home. Sometimes a change in ceiling height is appropriate and more visually appealing,
especially in confined spaces.
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Your post doesn't give me quite enough to go on to give you an answer. For starters, I don't know what you mean when you say "the truss span is 11' and the a/c contractor needs 12'. "
You certainly can't have a 12' opening for ductwork in a floor truss.
Your truss supplier may or may not have "messed up" your trusses by not putting another duct chase in the floor where you want it. Two things come to mind - they might not have known that you wanted one there, or it may not have been possible. (You can't have 2 duct chases in one floor truss span, for instance)
Floor truss webs
b can
be cut, in certain situations. (Generally the top and bottom chords can't be cut, however) You'll have a lot better chance of getting a repair approved if the place you want your duct chase is roughly centered between bearing walls. If it isn't, it probably won't fly.
This situation isn't all that uncommon. I would suggest talking to your truss supplier. They are the final authority on what can be done in your particular situation. Just asking other contractors, friends, and people on the internet probably won't get your problem solved.
Best of luck with it............
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I am currently constructing a two-story home in Florida. My first floor ceiling height is 9'4." Now, I am told by my builder that the air conditioning contractor advises that my laundary, butler's pantry and food pantry will have to have only 8' ceilings, because the a/c ductworks need the additional space. There are no chasers in these three rooms, which causes me to wonder if the truss company messed up the trusses to begin with (both the rooms on either side have chasers running the length of the home).
My buiilder tells me that the roof trusses cannot be cut. However, several other contractors with whom I am acquanted, including one who has been to the construction site, tell me that the trusses can be cut, but only with instructions by the truss company or an engineer.
My builder also tells me that even if the trusses are cut, it still will not give enough space, as the truss span is 11' and the a/c contractor needs 12'.
What can be done?