What is a roof truss? A truss is a structure with straight pieces forming triangles to support a load. The members of the triangles are placed under tension and compression but do not bend.
When to use a roof truss Roof trusses are characterized by an economic use of construction materials (timber, steel). Composed of individual lightweight pieces, a truss can also provide a considerable advantage in transport and assembly as compared to conventional roof structures. On the other hand, trusses are more labor-intensive and require connection devices.
However, if a greater number of identical trusses can be manufactured, then considerable economies of scale can be achieved. The structural height of a truss is usually larger than the height of similar structures using solid beams. For roofs, however, this is usually no disadvantage as roofs must often – depending on roof cover material used – be higher at the ridge and lower at the eaves to facilitate roof drainage and ensure water tightness.
