When it comes to outdoor home improvement projects, there are some that require a lot of work and planning. This is the case with additions and outdoor structures, such as pavilions, gazeboes, or other landscaping structures. When you are planning on building these features, roof trusses are a cost- and time-cutting solution. The following roof truss guide will help you find the right trusses for your outdoor structures:

Options for Roof Truss Materials

If you are planning on using roof trusses for outdoor projects, there are a lot of things to consider. First, if the wood of the trusses is going to be exposed to the elements. You might need to ask the truss company about using materials that are resistant to decay, such as pressure-treated lumber. You can also use trusses that are constructed of more attractive lumber like cedar or cypress, which can be good in areas that are visible.

Supporting Loads for Roof Trusses

When you are building a structure that is going to use roof trusses, knowing where the point loads are is important. These are the points in the structure where the trusses rest, and the weight of the roof is supported down to the footing beams. The exact point of the area where a truss load is located needs to be supported with structural beams and posts. You might want to work with the truss company during the construction process to ensure the loads are supported.

Types of Roofs That Can Be Built with Trusses

Some of the options for designs for your outdoor structures using roof trusses include:

• Gable Roofs—A gable roof is the simple, A-frame design of a roof, which is the simplest type of roof truss that can be installed. There are also options for combining different gables with valleys for more complex designs.
• Valley Roofs—Valleys are created when two different roof slopes meet, which can be from a gable or from a shed or lean-to roof design. Usually, the main body trusses are installed first with these designs, and then, special valley trusses complete the shape of the roof valleys.
• Simple Roof Shapes—Trusses can also be used to create simple roof designs, such as a lean-to roof. Lean-to roofs are often referred to as shed roofs, and they feature a single roof slope with runoff flowing to one side of the structure.
• Complex Roof Shapes—Trusses can also be used to create more complex roof designs that include various elevations with gables, valleys, and hip roofs. These designs might have trusses that form the main body of the roof, but some of the designs might need to be filled in with conventional stick-framing.

There are very few shapes that can't be created with trusses. You will want to discuss the different designs you are thinking about for your outdoor structures with your truss company.

If you are ready to start building outdoor structures for your property, contact a truss supplier to start the planning.