Setting Roof Trusses By Hand

A roof truss is a tectonic framework of some type of dedicated support material that can perfectly traverse the free space above a room.

Setting roof trusses by hand.

The first step in wood truss erection is setting the gable truss first truss. Roof truss basics roof trusses are engineered wood alternatives to hand framed rafters. The gable truss is sheathed and forms the outside surface of the house. Setting subsequent trusses the workers then set the second truss in a similar manner to the first and attach a ridge beam at the apex of each truss.

Not only is it really heavy it s going to be too wobbly to safely set by hand get a crane. Also measure the length of half of the roof from one side of the ridge beam to the edge of the building. The workers manually position the first truss at the end of the roof on the corresponding number on the wall plate. Erecting the first gable truss.

Any roof truss that s over 30 long and has a pitch greater than 5 12 is probably too big to be lifting by hand. They support live and dead loads by efficiently transferring the loads to the building walls or supports. They then nail it to the wall plate and attach temporary braces to hold it upright. Wood truss erection can be dangerous and time consuming.

Because trusses are set on the outer bearing walls of a building the interior layout can change before and after construction. And these days so easy to resell on ebay. I ve successfully lifted two sets of 80 foot span roof trusses along with all of the roof purlins and truss bracing using winch boxes. Trusses are made up of diverse even members that can be made of wood or metal and then arranged into triangular shapes.

After setting the second truss in the same manner workers attach a ridge beam to the peak of both trusses. The beam extends to the far end of the roof hanging over. However with a few erection tips you can erect wood trusses safely and efficiently.