How To Cut Roof Trusses

Roof truss basics roof trusses are engineered wood alternatives to hand framed rafters.

How to cut roof trusses.

A cut roof this is the traditional method of cutting the timber on site and building up the roof using rafters ridge boards joists and purlins etc the exact details being determined by the size of roof size of timbers etc. Depending on the size of your structure you will need to cut several or many more. At this point you ve cut 1 roof rafter. The truss is a framework consisting of rafters posts and struts which supports your roof.

The important point to keep in mind when you use your truss calculator is that every truss calculation is completely unique and is based on the size of your roof and its specific dimensions. With modern trusses the entire assembly can be constructed on the ground in triangular frames and the most challenging part of the work is determining the angle at which to cut your pieces. Every truss is computer designed to handle specific loading and spacing requirements and precision cut so there is uniformity from one truss to the. Let s compare common roof trusses with the roof framing materials that were used in your parent s house.

All roof rafters should be identical so follow the same steps to measure the plumb cut tail cut and birdsmouth cut. While they look the same you probably didn t notice the subtle differences. For larger structures 2 by 6 lumber can be used. The number of rafters needed will be determined by the length of your roof.

Click here to get free fast bids from local structural engineers who can help you cut your trusses. To put together a simple wooden truss you ll fasten a number of pre cut beams into a chosen configuration inside a sturdy triangular frame which will help distribute the weight of the structure more evenly. These trusses are usually engineered by a structural engineering company to carry a specific roof load. They support live and dead loads by efficiently transferring the loads to the building walls or supports.

When a truss becomes damaged cut or modified there is a chance of a structural overload or that they will not perform properly. Most trusses are built from 2 by 4 lumber.