A roof truss consists of top and bottom chords, inner web members, and steel connecting plates at every intersection. These plates connect the timbers together and then combine the timber and plates to support the roof loadings all through the truss and provide support to the load-bearing below.
You can use timber roof trusses to frame a wide range of roofs for both warm and cold seasons because they have a wide range of great structures including masonry, timber, and steel frame.
There are numerous types of trusses that can vary from variety to requirement. These roof trusses come in different shapes, sizes, and usage patterns and you can adopt one which best suits your project needs. There are many different types of roof trusses depending upon the service required.
Types of Roof Trusses:
- Standard Fink Truss
- Attic Trusses
- Raised Tie Truss
- Mono Truss
- Scissor Truss
Choosing one of the best roof trusses for your home is quite perplexing at times. At Carpentry Calc we provide you with cost calculations and cost-effective solutions for your manufacturing and construction projects.
You will be needing roof trusses for the construction of your roof. But what kind of truss you will be using for your roof construction vastly depends upon the aesthetic conditions. Each roof truss is designed to best suit some specific construction purpose and circumstances.
Elements needed for creation of Roof Truss:
Bearing: Provides structural support normally a beam or a wall which is designed in a way that it carries the whole loads to the foundation.
Bottom Chord: This is a horizontal or inclined shaped chord that maintains the bottom of the truss by carrying bending stress and combined tension.
Cantilever: An extended part of the truss that provides support mainly for overhanging purposes.
Continuous Lateral Brace (CLR): This is a line of structure that provides continuous support to the chord or web and reduces the unsupported stretch of the truss member.
Heel: It is mainly a point where the top and bottom chords of the truss intersect.
Overall Height: This is a vertical distance which exists between the uppermost and the bearing point of the peak.
Overhang: This is an additional extension between the bearing support and top chord of a truss.
Panel Length: This length is the horizontal distance between the consecutive panel and the centerlines along from the top to the bottom chord.
Panel Point: A point location where the top and bottom chord intersect which are then connected by metal connector plates.
Peak: It is the main point where sloped chords connect.
Slope/Pitch: The hill point of the roof which is calculated by the inches of rise over the inches of run.
Span: This is a horizontal distance which lies outside the edges of exterior bearings.
Splice: This is a place where two chords join and form a single chord member.
Top Chord: This point is established by the top member of the truss which can be horizontal.
Triangulation:This point is formed with rigid triangles which are strongly connected together.
Truss Plate:These plates are built with steel protected zinc or zinc aluminum which is equivalent to stainless steel.
Web: Members or supporting points that join the top and bottom chords making triangular patterns that carry axial forces.
Wedge: A triangular piece of timber whose one side is almost 2 inches wide and provides an intersecting point between the top and bottom chords. It is mainly used to determine engineering examinations.
Most Common Uses of Roof Trusses
Opting for purchasing roof trusses makes sense only when you choose to address designing considerations which are often expensive and require special building code requirements. Mentioned below are some key uses of roof trusses and when you should adopt the consideration of opting for roof trusses
- Installing roof trusses does not require an experienced worker which ultimately helps you in reducing expenses related to labor costs, installation, and facilitating processes and other roof suspension systems.
- Some construction designs require you to have less load-bearing walls where roof trusses can be used as a best-fit option by helping you in achieving longer spans and creating open living spaces.
- When you save on building materials by using roof trusses you save on less expensive material throughout the construction phase.
- Installation of roof trusses can be completed in a short time span of one day. All the prefabrication can be done near the project site or can be erected using a lightweight crane or any other construction equipment.
Cost of Roof Trusses
There are certain dynamics to determine the cost of a truss. A study conducted in the mid-2010 concluded that for an average American house the cost of a roof truss will lie between $12,000 to $15,000.
Breaking down the cost for other materials often leaves no room in saving money. For example, the labor costs for roof trusses often exceeds $2500. Rent for the crane would cost $700. A good quality of wood almost always exceeds $10,000 and scrap disposal cost ranges between $200 and $500.
Conventional framing is more expensive as compared to prefabricated truss. Keep this aspect in mind when you are thinking of adopting a customized model or frame.
How to save money? Is it possible?
Adopt a practical approach and save on your money by choosing a 4/12 pitch roof. It is the most economical pitch to imply. It is a shallow but strong truss that has maximized the use of timber. A 4/12 pitch indicates that the roof will be 4 inches higher for every 12 inches of run.
Always use an appropriate setup that you can adopt by negotiating lower labor costs for larger projects. Most of the cost of a truss depends upon the raw materials which allows you to save a significant percentage of finished projects on time.