Planning For An Addition: Construction Introduction

Building Your Own Home? How to Choose the Right Roof Trusses for the Project

If you're in the process of designing your new home, you may have decided to get a truss roof. They are a great idea because they're less expensive to build, which means you'll save money on your construction costs. Not only that, they're designed to fit just about any size and style of home. Truss roofs are also the best option if you've chosen an open concept for your new home. That's because the lighter design puts less weight on the interior walls of the home.

If you're going to be handling the construction of your home, you'll need to understand the different types of trusses that are available for your roof. Here is some information that will help you to identify the different types of roof trusses you may need for your home. 

Large Expanses

If you're going to build a large home, one with spans wider than about 8 to 12 yards, you'll want to use a queen post truss. One of the benefits of choosing queen post trusses is that they're designed to provide structural stability for roofs that will cover larger homes. Queen post trusses are secured using an additional queen truss that's installed between the two main trusses. 

Short Expanses

If you've decided to design a home with a smaller footprint, you'll want to choose king post trusses. King post trusses are designed to span distances between 5 and 8 yards, which makes them the best option for smaller homes. One of the great things about king post trusses is that they require fewer construction materials, which helps to control the overall cost of your roof. 

Vaulted Ceilings

If you want to design your new home with high, vaulted ceilings, you'll need to use scissor trusses for your roof. Scissor trusses have a higher pitch point, which allows for the inclusion of vaulted ceilings. One of the benefits of using scissor trusses is that they can be incorporated with other truss structures, which allows you to vault specific ceilings in your new home. For instance, you may want traditional ceilings in your bedrooms, while adding vaulted ceilings to your living room and family room. 

Attic Space

If you want to ensure added space in your attic, you'll need to include attic trusses in your design. Attic trusses provide wider gaps between the webbing, which allows for more usable space. This is especially important if you plan to use your attic as additional living space.

Contact truss roof contractors to learn more about your options.