Builder’s Guide to Roof Truss Design, Types, and Cost

As roof trusses grow in popularity, more and more homeowners have questions about them. They want to know more about roof truss designs, costs, and materials, which we want to talk about today.

Using our extensive knowledge about trusses, we’ve created an article that will help you understand your truss options and choose the best style for your building.

Different Kinds of Roof Truss Designs

The first thing we want to talk about is the variety of roof truss designs. The appearance of a truss is dictated by its chords, triangle structures, shape, and size. Manipulating these elements gives you different kinds of designs that can add depth and uniqueness to a house.

To show you what we mean, let’s talk about the most common kinds of trusses we see installed.

Pole Barn Truss For Roof

Many owners choose pole barn trusses because they are structurally sound and incredibly safe. A pole barn truss can easily last up to 30 years or more. Of course, owners can customize these trusses to precisely reflect their needs and style.

King Post Trusses

Looking to frame a garage or porch? You might want to consider a king post truss. This kind of truss is very open and visible, and therefore popular amongst homeowners who want a noticeable home feature.

Double Pitch Profile Truss

The trusses you often see in commercial buildings are “double pitch profile” trusses. They are more complex than classic pitched roofs and therefore add a different design concept to the building.

Fink Truss

This is an overall roof truss design. You’ll notice the distinct “W” shape between chords, which adds a fun element to any room. Fink trusses are used in a variety of projects, but especially in residential buildings.

Mono Pitch Truss

You can quickly identify a “mono-pitch” design by its single rafter and right-angle truss. These are used to form lean-to roofs or “single-pitched” roofs.

Scissor Truss (Vaulted Truss)

Scissor (aka vaulted) trusses give a building an exciting ceiling shape. If you want your ceiling to feel high or open, this might be the right design choice for your building.

Raised Tie Truss

Like the scissor truss, this truss is designed to give ceilings a vaulted feel. However, this one is different in that it has a lower chord raised to create a flatter profile with more angled edges.

Hip Truss

A “hip roof” is a roof with slopes on all four sides, which meet at a single point in the center of the roof. Hip trusses are very useful when you need help dispelling wind and snow from your roof. Many people also choose hip trusses for their unique architectural aspects

Raised Heel Truss

Looking for the most energy-efficiency truss design? We suggest the “raised heel” truss, which allows for excellent ventilation and insulation. These roofs are slightly higher than others. This helps with natural airflow.

Regardless of which roof truss design you choose, you’ll find that you can either have the trusses premade or assembled on site. Talk to your contractor about the best options for your location and design type.

Wood Types for Roof Trusses

Next, we need to discuss how different roof trusses are made – what materials are used, and the construction process.

The most common wood material used in Florida is Southern Yellow Pine.

However, you’ll find that different types of wood are used all over the world. If you have a specific request, talk to your contractor to determine if the wood will suit your roof construction needs.

Speaking of construction, there are two ways to implement your timber trusses.

The first method involves transferring the load from the roof through the walls to the building’s foundation. This is a standard construction method for barns, businesses, covered bridges, and even some homes.

The second method has the elements of the timber trusses joined together with mortise or tenon joints. The hardwood pegs are fitted into tight holds, and some construction teams use webbing or steel ties to facilitate even weight distribution.

If you’re like the average homeowner, you’re likely unsure what kind of wood you want to use or how the roof trusses should be installed. Talk to an expert who can help you make the right choice.

How Much Do Roof Trusses Cost?

Lastly, it’s time to talk about roof truss price tags. How much will you need to shell out for the materials and installation?

Before we go further, we need to mention that the real answer to the question is: it depends. Many, many factors come into play with roof truss design.

But we want to give you some ballpark costs based on industry data.

Typically speaking, roof truss installation in a roughly 2K square-foot house will cost anywhere between $7,200 and $12,000. That’s about $4.50 per square foot for materials, plus the added cost of installation labor.

Elements that affect the cost of the project:

• Type of materials used.
• Amount of labor required.
• Property’s location.
• Property’s size.
• Roof’s complexity.

Generally, you can expect to pay between $20 to $30/hour for the roof truss installation labor. Ask around to learn about the rates of several different contracting companies before choosing one. It’s always smart to compare price points before committing.

Keep in mind; you usually get what you pay for in roof construction. The cheap route could end up costing you more in the long run.

In Conclusion

Using this guide, you can make plans to implement roof truss designs within your building – and we’re here to help. With more than 75 years of experience in the roof truss manufacturing business for residential and commercial buildings, we’re experts in the field.

Hitek’s mission is to provide high-quality roof trusses at a reasonable price. We refuse to accept shoddy workmanship, but we still strive to offer roof trusses for a cost that the average homeowner can afford. We also prioritize efficiency – no one wants a construction project to drag on forever.

If you have questions about wood roof trusses, don’t hesitate to call (352) 797-0877. You can also send us a message online to request a free estimate for your truss project. We’ll get back to you as soon as possible.