Different kinds of Roof Trusses

There are so many different kinds of roof trusses. It can be hard to know which is the best one to go for.

Fink Truss

Fink Trusses are cheap, lightweight, use relatively small timber sections, and in most cases the roof can be erected in a day. Fink Trusses work best in simple roof designs.

The disadvantages of this is that they are impractical if you want to use the space for anything more than simply light storage. Not suitable for complex roof designs, the more junctions, hips and valleys, as well as dormer windows you add to the roof, the more complex the underlying carpentry and less advantageous a fink truss roof becomes.

Open or attic truss

An attic truss gives you some fantastic empty attic space within the simplicity of a trussed roof design. Attic trusses are made from heavier timbers than a fink roof truss and cost so much more to buy. In terms of cost there is not much to choose from between an attic truss and a traditional cut roof.

The attic truss comes into its own with the roof shapes are complex or perhaps when access to site is difficult.

Structural insulated panels

Panelised roofs such as SIPs use large pre-insulated sheets, laid across roof beams. The beams are typically placed along the ridge, at the eaves and hallway between the two where they are known as purlins. After these purlins are in place the panels can be craned in in a matter of minutes.

King Post Truss

These are used typically for short spans they’re often used in extensions, garages, porches and outbuildings. Many old buildings boast a visible feature king post truss.

It takes advantage of the well-known fact that a triangle is an extremely rigid shape. The principal rafters and tie beam form a triangle which is braced by the king post running from the centre of the tie to the roof ridge.

Queen post truss

They are vertically upright with two triangles on either side. These are not commonly used anymore as they have been succeeded by the fink truss.

Double pitch profile truss

This is used to create different roof pitches. This is often in commercial buildings, but you can find it in some homes too.

Mono pitch truss

A mono pitch truss has but a single rafter and a right angle truss used to form lean to roofs or a single pitched roof.

Scissor truss

This is also known as a vaulted truss. A scissor truss is also used to create vaulted ceilings or other more interesting ceiling shapes for certain property projects.

Raised tie Truss

Raised tie trusses are used to create vaulted ceilings. The lower chords are raised to make a flatter profile for higher ceilings with angled edges.

Some builders choose to make roof trusses while others will simply buy them pre-made to be delivered to site.

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