Steps To Construct Your Own Timber Trusses Roof

Timber trusses have both aesthetic as well as utility value. They are not merely an attractive fixture for the inside of the roof but they are also an effective means of support for the entire weight of the roof. Trusses are critically important for preventing the walls from bending or flexing and more so for buildings with two or more stories. The building trusses are generally made of aluminum, steel, or any other galvanized metal. But, for smaller buildings and private houses, trusses are made of treated timber products because timber is quite reliable and easy to work with. But you must however exercise care when selecting the type of wood and the quality of the timbers used for timber trusses. Constructing your own timber trusses is not complicated as long as you sedulously follow the well laid down steps. The things you will need to construct your own timber trusses roof are - architectural plans, engineering drawings, good quality treated timbers, chisel and hammer, hand saws, squares, electric drill with different size bits, gussets and screws, wood glue and tape measure. 1) Show your architectural plans and the style of the truss to a qualified engineer to ensure the roof trusses will carry the load of the roof. The engineer will also need to know what type of wood you plan using.rn2) Select each timber for the truss from the saw mill with lot of care. Avoid pieces of timber that have knots and other inconsistencies in them. Ask the saw mill to cut the treated timber sizes down to the specific as per the engineering documents. Make sure that the two top cords and the horizontal bottom cord are made from the straightest possible timbers.rn3) Cut each timber for the truss according to the engineering plans. Typical timber frame tools include chisels, hand saws, circular saws, squares and drills. Each joint type will be specified in the engineering plans.rn4) Lay out each piece of the truss on a flat surface and check the fit for each joint and assemble the entire truss on the ground. It is important that all dimensions and angles are accurate conforming to the engineering plans.rn5) You can now dissemble the open timber trusses and number each of the joints prior stacking it on an even surface. Repeat the exercise for each truss required for your project. Keep the trusses separated from one another until it is time to assemble and raise the trusses. There are a few other points that you need to remember when constructing your own timber trusses: 1) Measure a couple of times and become doubly sure and then cut once to avoid mistakes.rn2) Do not forget to apply the stain and seal to the timbers before assembling them. You can always touch the finish after the installation.rn3) It is essential that you wear the safety glasses as also the hearing protection particularly when working with power tools.rn4) Handle each timber cautiously as it can be very heavy and cumbersome to work with. Finally, if you are not confident of constructing your own timber trusses, it may be safer for you to hire an experienced contractor for this purpose.