How To Secure Roof Trusses

Some building codes around the country require the use of a hurricane tie also shown above to add extra reinforcement for holding down roof trusses in the event of very strong winds.

How to secure roof trusses. The term roof truss refers to large gabled roofs that are installed as pre assembled trussed rafters. Although trusses may be more expensive that a conventionally framed roof many builders use roof trusses to save time and labor costs. Trusses come in many configurations but basically consist of top chords rafters bottom chords ceiling joists and diagonal bracing or webbing all made from either 2 by 4 or 2 by 6 lumber. In traditional framing the roof is built stick by stick.

As strange as it sounds roof trusses are designed to move as a unit to maintain the structural integrity of the roof. Once the trusses are constructed lift them into place and set them onto the top plates of the exterior walls just as you would a beam or joist. However unlike rafters trusses are pre assembled before being installed. Toe nail them into the top plate to secure them and then make sure they are braced laterally using blocking or long purlins.

Although a roof truss may be heavier and more difficult to maneuver onto the top of the building than conventional framing lumber once there it can easily be slid into position and secured. With trusses it is possible to prefabricate the pieces needed into modular frames that can be installed every 24 inches to frame a roof with much less time. These hurricane ties came about as a result of the hurricanes causing so much destruction to roof framing members down south particularly in florida. Roof trusses combine rafters and attic floor joists into a modular triangular unit that replaces the traditional roof framing method.

Labor costs are lower than conventional rafter systems. Nearly 80 percent of the homes built in the u s. Trusses like rafters form the profile of the structure s roof. A roof truss saves a great deal of time and labor.

Trusses consist of two lengths of lumber that create the upper edge of the truss a bottom chord that connects the two opposite ends of the top chord and a series of supporting webwork in the middle. Utilize prefabricated roof trusses for the roof construction.