Types of Roof Trusses and their Applications in Residential Design
The roof trusses are the joint-frame structure, which has been designed with a triangular pattern and has the ability to sustain vertical, horizontal or inclined loads. The roof trusses consist of the straight, interconnected structural elements, including bottom chords, top chords, internal web members, and steel connector plates, which have been joined at the nodes by welding.
The roof truss system helps to support the loadings on the roof throughout the structure, and in this context, the external forces and reactions at the supports have been applied at the nodes. The steel roof trusses and timber roof trusses have been used in numerous construction structures, for example, stadiums, auditoriums, cinema halls, railways, airports, and stations to support the roofs. The roof truss helps to add strength and support to the construction structure.
Discuss the common types of roof trusses used in the building structure
King post roof truss
The king post roof trusses have been designed as the simplest form of the roof truss, which consists of two angled supports joined at the top and a central vertical post. The king post roof truss has been designed to span short distances, typically up to 5 metres. This type of roof truss is ideal for the residential building structure because of its economical design and ease of construction.
Queen post roof truss
While designing the queen post roof truss, two vertical posts instead of one have been used, which helps to provide a slightly longer span of about 10 metres. This type of roof truss is suitable for medium-sized residential and public building structures.
Hip roof truss
The hip roof trusses feature an extended top chord.
Gable roof truss
This type of roof truss has one bottom chord, two top chords, and several vertical posts and acts as the endcaps of the roof.
Mono roof truss
The mono roof truss has a single pitch and a vertical piece over the opposite bearing from the pitched bearing, which is widely used in commercial and agricultural buildings.
Scissor roof truss
This type of roof truss has sloped bottom chords, which makes it perfect for vaulted or sloped roofs.
Fink roof truss
The fink roof trusses have features with multiple diagonal beams reaching from top to bottom, which became popular in residential homes.
Attic roof truss
This type of roof truss helps to provide more attic spaces, and this can be achieved by using webbing on the top and each side of the roof truss.
Determining the roof trusses costs
The total cost of the roof truss has been estimated on the basis of several factors, which are as follows:
The size of the roof truss
The roof truss cost depends upon the roof pitch and its size. For example, the cost of a big-sized roof is higher than that of a smaller one, due to having more materials. On the other hand, steep roofs require more lumber as compared to flat or gently sloped roofs.
The materials of the roof truss
The cost of the metal roof trusses depends upon the size and complexity of the project. The metal roof truss is typically more expensive than the wooden trusses.
The type of the building
The installation costs of the roof truss depend upon the type of building structure that is going to be framed, as the construction material and labours varies on the basis of the different building types. For example, in the case of residential buildings, the installation cost of the roof truss is less compared to the commercial building structures, as they require less work.
The costs of the labourers
The labour cost has a higher impact on the overall roof truss cost. In the urban areas, the labour costs are higher than in the less populated areas, as more payment is required for the complex installation process.
Learn about the additional costs of the roof trusses
Some additional expenses also may impact the roof truss cost during the installation process, which include:
Equipment’s cost
During the installation process, the roof truss requires heavy equipment, for example, a crane to lift and position the roof truss onto the house frame. For small-scale jobs, the ladder and cherry picker can also be used. The installation cost depends upon the location of the rental company which gives rent this equipment and also what they have available.
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Waste removal cost
The waste removal costs also depend upon the type and amount of the waste materials, which has been required to be hauled away. At first, the contractor has to determine what material can be recycled and reused, and then they have to remove the waste from the building structure. The contractor should include the cleaning costs in their estimate.
