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What are Roof Trusses?
Roof Trusses Save Time and Money and can
support Elaborate Roof Designs
By Mark J. Donovan
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Roof trusses are pre-fabricated
triangular structural frames that are used in roof construction. They
effectively constitute the roof structure and support roof sheathing. Typically
roof trusses used in residential building are made out of lumber and are
fastened together with nailing plates. Normally lower cost 2x4 lumber is used to
construct the triangle networks that constitute the structural design of roof
trusses, whereas in stick building a roof much larger and more expensive
dimensional lumber is used.
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Roof trusses are faster to install
than stick building a roof, and often are structurally stronger than a stick
built roof. They are fabricated at a factory and can be designed and engineered
to meet the unique requirements of a custom roof design, as well as the national
and local building codes for the specific job site. Typically all that is
required to design and fabricate a roof truss is the roof span and pitch, and
any unique features associated with the roof.
Due to their numerous advantages, builders are increasingly using roof trusses.
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Roof trusses save them time and money
and allow more elaborate roof designs to be constructed. Many of today’s modern
new home designs have complicated roof lines and roof trusses enable these homes
to come to fruition.
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Roof trusses are commonly installed
with the help of a crane. Though the use of a crane is expensive to have on a
job site, typically an entire roof can be installed in a single day.
Consequently the crane rental cost is a fraction of the material and labor costs
associated with stick building a roof.
Roof trusses are specifically engineered for the particular roof design called
out in a home’s blueprints. If a cathedral roof design is required, for example,
roof trusses are engineered and manufactured at the factory to support the
requirement. |
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Consequently, a roof truss should never need to be cut or should be cut at
the job site, nor after the home is built. Cutting even a single small
member of a roof truss can dramatically weaken the roof truss and lead to
catastrophic failure of the roof. Never cut a roof truss without first
getting input from a structural engineer.
So if you have home construction plans that involve a new roof consider
using roof trusses. They can speed up the project and provide a stronger
roof, at a fraction of the cost of stick building a roof. |
Photos by Mark Donovan |
For a comprehensive new home construction
checklist, see my
New Home Construction Bid Sheet. The New Home Construction Bid
Sheet provides a request for quote checklist section that you can provide to
prospective building contractors. It also includes a comprehensive new home
construction cost breakdown table, in Microsoft Excel format, that allows the
contractor to include his projected new home construction costs for every phase
of the project.
How to Finance your New Home Construction Project -
can help provide funds for your new home improvement project if financing is
required.
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Framing Resources
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