Posts tagged: truss

A Truss Roof is a great way to quickly and cost-effectively build a strong, sturdy roof.  Using trusses not only saves builders up to half of the cost of stick-built rafters but also helps add strength and stability to any project.  With so many advantages, it is no wonder builders turn to trusses for 80 percent of all new housing construction.  However, there are so many different types of roof trusses, as well as different ways to use them, that homeowners and builders alike can quickly become confused!

In order to understand the three major types of trusses, it is important to know what trusses are capable of doing and how they are made.  It is also important to consider how trusses will be used and why they are designed in certain ways in order to understand how truss manufacturers choose their patterns.

What Is A Roof Truss and How Is It Constructed?

A roof truss is a prefabricated wooden structure, assembled at a truss manufacturer and delivered to a job site, the substitutes for stick-built rafters.  They are usually made of strong, lightweight wood held together with metal plates.  Most trusses are triangular in shape with several chords or members internally changing the direction of stress and weight from the roof load.  This allows trusses to stand up to extremely heavy weights and strong winds without breaking or cracking.

The Three Categories of Trusses By Shape or Design

One way to categorize trusses is by their design and purpose.  In general, trusses can be broken down into three major categories: gable, hip and attic.  Each of these types of trusses is used in certain applications.   Choosing the right truss for the right type of roofing is a very important part of the overall home design, as it affects not only the aesthetics of the home but also the durability and strength of the roof.

• Gable roof trusses.  The gable is the most common and most flexible of all truss forms.  Built as a simple triangle, gables are capable of spanning large lengths and holding up significant weight.  They can also be built to almost any pitch a builder wants, so steep or shallow roofing is possible just by choosing the angle of the truss.
• Hip roof trusses.  Hip roofing is also popular, particularly on certain styles of homes and on those with multiple rooflines.  Hip roofs meet at a central peak and allow for large, visible sections of roofing to add to the curb appeal of a home.  Hip trusses can be slightly more difficult to build and install than gables, but many homeowners prefer them for their beauty.
• Attic roof trusses.  A growing number of homes are built with attic roof trusses, which have a void in the center to allow for storage areas or even new rooms in the future.  With construction costs so high at present, many builders and homeowners are choosing to build homes of smaller square footage but still take advantage of the ability to expand the home’s floor space in the future by using attic trusses.

At Stone Truss, we have been working with San Diego and southern California builders for many years.  We understand how to help builders choose the right truss applications for any job, and our experts are ready to help you with your next building project!  Give us a call today to learn how we can save you time and money with quality truss roofing delivered directly to your job site.

Many people understand the benefits of using wooden trusses to build a roof for a home or business.  Trusses are lightweight, strong, flexible, and very-cost effective when compared to traditional rafters.  However, there are also benefits to using trusses that many do know about.  When you consider these benefits in addition to the well-known advantages of trusses, it makes even more sense to use wooden truss construction, no matter what type of building you are contemplating.

Three Ways Trusses Work For You 

Trusses are some of the hardest working components of any build.  Not only do they support your roof with strength, they are also some of the most long-lasting and flexible elements of the entire construction project.  Trusses are able to bend slightly, due to the light woods used, and they spread force over a wide area and in different directions.  This means that wind shear, heavy rain and other weather issues are no problem for trusses (within limits). 

However, these aren’t the only benefits of using trusses.  You can actually design three basic types of roofs, each of which have their own benefits and functions, using only truss construction:

• Simple gable styles. One of the most popular ways to use trusses is in simple gable-style roofing.  Gables, which are basically triangular and run the length of the building, perhaps with small bump-outs that are perpendicular, are the most common style of trusses because they are easy to install and very cost-effective.  Gable trusses can be created in almost any pitch or angle to give you a steep or a shallow roofline.
• More complicated hip or decorative styles. If you want more interest in your roofline than a gable roof provides, you can still use trusses as an option.  Trusses can be manufactured for hip roofs, which are often used in country or French architectural styles; mansard, which can be very difficult to build by hand; and even flat, Italian or Spanish styles.  No matter what the look, there is a truss that is right for that style.
• Roofs with built-in attic space. Even if you need to create a void to build a room under your rafters, trusses can be the solution.  Many truss designs now include headspace so that they can be used to create bedrooms, bathrooms, or attic storage in the truss itself.  With these types of trusses, you also save time and money on building walls for these rooms, since the framing is part of the truss itself.

At Stone Truss, we have decades of experience in helping you choose the right trusses for your job.  Our professionals can work with you from the design phase right up through delivery to your job site, on time and on demand.  Whether you are building a large commercial project or a small home, we are here to help!  Give Stone Truss a call today to see how much easier and better your building experience can be when working with an experienced truss roofing manufacturer.

One of the most common reasons that builders use wooden trusses for roofing and flooring applications is the fact that they are stronger and sturdier than many other types of construction applications.  With the power of cutting costs as well as the ability to create strong, quality construction products, the initial investment in trusses is well worth the price to many builders and their clients.  Trusses are durable, strong and easy to use, and they provide a great way to quickly erect strong, sturdy and cost-effective construction.

Here are a few facts about trusses that show why they are so durable and strong:

• Because trusses are built to exacting specifications and typically in a factory setting, the quality is generally better than what you will get with conventionally framed roof systems. Trusses are engineered as a whole system to work together with all forces imposed on a building to assure strength and durability.
• Less weight. Trusses are usually light weight and easier to install.
• More insulation. A truss roof often creates larger volume in the attic space, allowing for more insulation to be installed. This translates into lower energy costs to the homeowner and an overall savings over the life of the roof.  In some cases, additional attic insulation can result in hundreds or thousands of dollars in energy savings throughout the year.  In addition, more insulation and lower energy demand are environmentally friendly options, something that many homeowners today prioritize.
• Because trusses can be designed and built in almost any shape or size, the roofing possibilities with trusses are limitless.  Rather than causing homeowners to give up their dreams of an aesthetically pleasing roofline, trusses can be created to allow for gable, hip or other types of roofing styles in almost any height and pitch.  At one time, rafters were the only way to have varied, interesting roofline details, but today’s trusses allow homeowners to use their imaginations when it comes to designing rooflines with plenty of curb appeal.

At Stone Truss, we have been helping San Diego builders save money and build quality homes and businesses for decades.  Our firm prepares, builds and delivers high-quality roof and floor trusses to building sites throughout southern California. We stand behind our reputation for quality products as well as on-time delivery and helpful service.  We can help you choose the trusses you need to make your next building project simple, quick and cost-effective, while still giving your clients a quality final product.  Give us a call today to discuss your next building project, and see how much Stone Truss can help you save in costs without skimping in quality.