I want to cut the bottom cord of a truss!!!

[jabre]

Well, after doing an addition which incorporates an old laundry room which had my pull-down attic access stairs, I no longer have a good attic access. I am left with a 2x2 hole which I must drag a ladder to and crawl up through :(

I have a hallway which would be perfect for adding a pull down attic stair. But, unfortunately, there is a truss running lengthwise down the center of the hallway ceiling. Ugh! Is there any way to frame a pull-down stair opening properly such that it will allow me to cut that truss cord? If you can create a header for a 6' door, why can't you do the effective same thing with a truss cord if the trusses are 24" on center?

[Rich]

The major problem is that a header is in compression from the weight on top of it... whereas a truss bottom chord is in tension (holding the walls from spreading) so somehow you have to overcome that by using simpson straps or something. I would get an engineer to look at your particular situation.

[infernocapt]

I'm not sure of how to brace this but definately do not cut the bottom cord of the truss. Truss construction is strong but it relys on all the pieces to be in place. Each truss is dependant of the next to do its job. If one part of a truss fails it can lead to a domino effect because the neighboring truss wasn't designed to take on the immediate new load.
Bottom line do not cut the truss without first taking the "spreading tension's" place with another system.