How Roof Trusses Work

Whether you re framing a new roof or remodeling an existing truss roof it s important to know what components make up a truss and how the.

How roof trusses work.

A roof truss is an engineered building component designed to span longer distances than dimensional lumber without relying on interior partition walls for support. A bridge truss takes the weight of the cars and trucks passing over it and transfers it to the piers. The most common truss a 2 4 fink truss is designed to support several different loads. The geographical location of your proposed home plays a critical part in the truss design.

These steel joints are needed to support the overall truss. Finally the truss calculator will compute the best dimensional method to connect the pieces of the truss with steel joints and a bridge. Once the trusses are constructed lift them into place and set them onto the top plates of the exterior walls just as you would a beam or joist. For a 2 000 square foot home roof truss installation typically costs between 7 200 and 12 000 you ll spend anywhere from 1 50 to 4 50 per square foot for materials alone or between 35 and 150 though extremely long and complex types can reach 400 each labor runs anywhere from 20 to 75 per hour ranges in both materials and labor are due to location size and roof complexity.

Toe nail them into the top plate to secure them and then make sure they are braced laterally using blocking or long purlins. House plans that include a trussed roof generally involve too many location specific variables for designers to be able to provide the truss design that will be required. Trusses are quite common these days because they have five big advantages from the builder s standpoint. Trusses are pre fabricated triangulated wooden structures used to support the roof.

The alternative is to build up the roof s frame with 2x8s and 2x10s. Roof trusses have smaller wood planks that are engineered with the same strength as high quality wood. The same thing is true for the bridge of the truss. Install the roof trusses.

A roof truss takes the weight of the roof and the snow on the roof if you live in that kind of climate and transfers it out into the load bearing walls of your house. What s more roof trusses are built in a factory under a controlled environment with the highest quality machinery. Advantages of trusses less expensive. The more complex the truss framework is the greater quantity of these joints will be required.