Vital Facts About Timber Roof Trusses For Commercial Buildings

29 April 2020
 Categories: Construction & Contractors, Blog


In commercial buildings, roofs are essential because they protect occupants from the elements such as rain and the scorching sun. Furthermore, being one of the most expensive and largest structural parts of a building, a roof requires careful planning and design to increase its lifespan. A roof truss system has straight members that join to form a series of triangles, which support the roof. Timber is one of the most common materials used to make roof trusses because of benefits such as low cost, versatility, and minimal installation effort. This article reviews vital facts about timber roof trusses for commercial buildings.

Timber Quality -- Remember that timber for implementing roof trusses should be selected appropriately to ensure the structural integrity of the roof. Make sure that the wood does not have natural defects. A simple visual inspection of timber can help you to determine its suitability for making trusses. For instance, if you spot any pockets of fungal, decay, or pest attacks on timber, look elsewhere.

Versatility -- One advantage that makes timber roof trusses popular is their versatility. Timber can be incorporated into a building that uses different materials such as steel beams. Furthermore, timber trusses enable the development of open floor plans in buildings without sacrificing square footage. By allowing roofs with longer span without the need to use load-bearing walls or beams, commercial buildings can create extra space with ease. The additional space can be partitioned accordingly without threatening the structural integrity of a building.

Fastening Systems -- The manufacturing process of timber trusses is influenced by many factors such as the types of fasteners that will be used to join individual truss members. Note that the nature of the fasteners determines the size of members and, subsequently, the strength of the roof truss system. Choosing the right connector or fastener can improve the durability and quality of a roof truss system. For instance, using nails to connect truss members is preferable because nails are readily available and less costly than other connectors. In addition, nails can be applied using simple tools, and they are available in different sizes to suit various sizes of truss members. On the other hand, screws have a much higher withdrawal resistance compared to nails. Therefore, use screws in case of constant shrinking and swelling of wood, which can cause truss joints to become loose. Other connectors which can be adopted in the wood truss system include split rings, bolts, and tooth plate connectors.

To learn more about timber roof trusses, contact a supplier.


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