Roof Truss Pictures Showcase Different Designs

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Posted Nov 20, 2024

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Unfinished construction site with a focus on wooden roof trusses under a clear sky.
Credit: pexels.com, Unfinished construction site with a focus on wooden roof trusses under a clear sky.

Roof truss pictures showcase different designs that can inspire and inform your next roofing project.

A typical roof truss design consists of a series of triangles that provide structural support to the roof.

Roof truss pictures can be found in various styles, including modern, traditional, and hybrid.

Some common types of roof trusses include the Fink truss, King post truss, and Howe truss.

These truss designs can be used for various types of buildings, from residential homes to commercial structures.

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Types of Roof Trusses

The Fink Truss is a popular choice for roof structures, where dead, snow, and wind loads are distributed evenly. It's characterized by its inclined top chords, supported roughly at midspan by 2 diagonals.

In most cases, the Fink truss is used as a roof where loads are applied to the top chord. The bottom chord, inner diagonals, and vertical members all play a crucial role in distributing these loads.

What Are the Types of?

Credit: youtube.com, Steel Structure roof truss | iron structure building |

The Fink Truss is a type of roof truss that's commonly used in roof structures. It's characterized by its inclined top chords, which are supported roughly at midspan by 2 diagonals.

The Fink Truss is mainly used for roof structures where dead, snow, and wind loads are distributed from the inclined top chord to the diagonals, bottom chord, and finally the pin and roller support.

In most cases, the Fink truss is used as a roof where loads (dead, live, wind, and snow load) are applied on the top chord. The bottom chord and inner diagonals are also critical components of the Fink Truss.

A line load representing the self-weight of the roof itself is applied to the top chord, while snow and wind loads are applied differently.

Howe

The Howe Truss is a versatile and widely used type of roof truss. It's mainly used for bridge and roof structures.

One of its key features is its horizontal top and bottom chords, which are connected by an inclined diagonal. This unique design allows it to handle various types of loads.

Credit: youtube.com, 10 Trusses You Need To Know! (and 1 Bonus!)

Loads applied to the top chord of the Howe Truss are typically dead, live, wind, and snow loads, making it suitable for roof structures. It's essential to note that the load application changes when used as a bridge structure.

In a bridge structure, loads are applied to the bottom chord, including dead and traffic loads. This difference in load application requires careful consideration when designing a Howe Truss for a bridge.

Exposed Wooden Roof Trusses

Exposed wooden roof trusses can be a beautiful and rustic addition to any home, adding character and charm to the overall aesthetic.

They can be made from a variety of woods, including cedar, pine, and fir, which are often chosen for their durability and resistance to rot and insect damage.

Exposed wooden roof trusses can be used in a range of building styles, from modern to traditional, and can be finished in a variety of ways, including staining, painting, and leaving them natural.

King Post

Credit: youtube.com, James David Custom Homes installing timber trusses from Vintage Timberworks

The King Post is a type of truss used in timber roof structures.

It's primarily used where loads act on the 2 inclined rafters connecting the supports and the ridge.

The vertical central member connecting the bottom chord and the ridge is the king post.

The king post is supported by a tie beam at midspan, which transfers loads to the supports.

A line load applied to the rafters leads to compression in the rafters and the struts.

The bottom beam and the king post act in tension.

The straining beam is the top horizontal member of the King Post truss.

Fan

The fan truss is a popular choice for roof structures, particularly in areas prone to heavy snowfall. It's characterized by connecting 5 bars to 1 node in the bottom chord.

Loads such as dead weight, snow, wind, and live load are applied to the top inclined chord. This chord then distributes the loads through various members down to the 2 supports.

Credit: youtube.com, Exposed Ceiling Beams | Day 98 | The Garden Home Challenge With P. Allen Smith

The fan truss has a distinct arrangement of members, including a top inclined chord, outer diagonal members, vertical posts, bottom chord, and inner diagonals.

A line load representing snow load applied to the top inclined chord leads to compression in these members, as well as the outer diagonals and vertical posts. The bottom chord and inner diagonals, on the other hand, act in tension.

Exposed Wooden Beauty

Exposed wooden roof trusses bring a touch of warmth and character to a space. This is especially true when the trusses are left exposed, showcasing the natural beauty of wood.

The exposed wooden roof trusses can add a significant amount of square footage to a room, making it feel more spacious and airy.

A well-designed exposed truss system can also help to create a sense of openness and flow, making a room feel larger than it actually is.

Exposing the trusses can also make it easier to access the roof for maintenance and repairs, since there are no ceiling tiles or insulation to navigate.

By using a combination of vertical and horizontal elements, exposed wooden roof trusses can create a visually interesting and dynamic ceiling design.

What Are Roof Trusses?

Credit: youtube.com, Simple Explanation About Roof Truss Design, Parts And Assembly

Roof trusses are structural elements that can carry loads with relatively long spans compared to beams. They're often used in roof structures.

A truss is characterized by having tensions and compression members. This is what allows them to span long distances.

The Howe truss is an example of a truss, which we'll explain in more detail later. For now, let's focus on the different members of a truss.

Here are the main members of a truss:

  • Top chord
  • Bottom chord
  • Diagonals (sometimes called strut or tie depending on compression or tensions)
  • Post

These members work together to distribute loads evenly across the truss.

Roof Truss Structures

Roof truss structures are a crucial part of a building's framework. Different types of trusses have unique characteristics and benefits.

The connection type is important, and understanding it can help you choose the right truss for your project. Top chord and diagonals are key components of a truss, with diagonals experiencing both tension and compression.

Rafters are often used for smaller roof spans or widths, typically less than 16 ft, due to greater economy. Each rafter spans from the bearing wall to the ridge board at the roof peak.

Queen Post

Credit: youtube.com, King Post Truss vs Queen Post Truss

The Queen Post Truss is a type of roof structure that's worth getting familiar with. It has less diagonals and more vertical members compared to the king post truss.

This truss has two vertical bars, which are called queen posts, instead of one king post. Loads like self-weight, wind, snow, and live load apply on the inclined rafters.

The loads are then distributed through the various members down to the two supports. The queen post truss can have different variants, with diagonals from the tie beam to the rafter or a vertical post from the ridge to the centre of the straining beam.

The bottom tie beam and queen posts act in tension, while the rafters and straining beam are in compression.

Rafters

Rafters are a common choice for smaller roof spans or widths, typically less than 16 ft, due to greater economy. They're often used in conjunction with ceiling joists.

Each rafter spans from the bearing wall to the ridge board at the roof peak, half the distance between the two walls. They're sized per the building code for span, spacing, load, slope, wood species, and grade.

Credit: youtube.com, ROOF TRUSSES: Pros, cons, and costs!

The continuous ridge board secures the roof peak assembly. Ceiling joists act as a tension tie to keep the rafters from splaying out under load and also create a ceiling surface.

Ceiling joists are typically located on the top plate of the walls but may also be located higher to form a partially vaulted ceiling. A collar tie is commonly used in the upper third of the roof height below the ridge board to secure the rafter pairs against uplift.

Rafters are typically spaced at 16" o.c. or 24" o.c.

Types of Structures

Each type of truss structure has its own unique characteristics and benefits.

Top chord, diagonals, and verticals are key components of a truss structure.

The diagonals are in tension and compression, as you can see in the picture below.

The connection type is crucial in determining the overall stability of a truss structure.

The diagonals/verticals are in tension and compression, as you can see in the picture below.

As a structural engineer, I've learned that understanding the connection type is essential for designing effective truss structures.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the strongest roof truss design?

The king post truss is considered one of the strongest roof truss designs, capable of supporting heavy loads due to its robust structure. Its unique design features two vertical posts connected by a horizontal beam at the top.

Lou Tarchiani

Senior Writer

Lou Tarchiani is a passionate writer, avid traveler, and animal lover. She has a diverse background, having worked in fields ranging from marketing to education. Her travels have taken her to over 20 countries, where she has immersed herself in local cultures and gained unique perspectives on the world.

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