How Many Roof Trusses Will I Need

To determine how many trusses to create you will first need to measure both the width and the length of the structure you are building.

How many roof trusses will i need. Roof trusses are prefabricated triangulated wooden structures used to support the roof. The alternative is to build up the roof s frame with 2x8s and 2x10s. Most are spaced between 18 26 inches apart. Use of manufactured roof trusses can dramatically cut labor costs when framing a gable roof compared to building rafters.

If you re thinking about replacing your roof with a new one you will need a roof truss calculator. Gable roof trusses use this calculator to determine the number and lineal feet of trusses in a gable roof. Trusses can be constructed with smaller sized lumber than rafters and often their cost is not significantly higher than normal rafters. If your home is going to have a very large roof to cover the square footage of your home you will need larger dimension lumber.

Enter the following dimensions. The roof system is feet long. This online truss calculator will determine the all in cost of your truss based on key inputs related to the pitch width and overhang of your roof. For example a house that covers over 2 500 square feet will use 2 6 roof trusses rather than 2x4s.

The trusses should be a little longer than the exact width to allow for overhang and you will need sufficient trusses to mount across the length. The trusses are inches on center. Metal connectors are necessary trusses are not built by screwing the wood together.