Timber Frame Truss Styles

King truss a popular and well liked timber truss style for timber framing with wide variety of web styles etc.

Timber frame truss styles. Timber frame or post and beam structures can styled in many ways such as a saltbox farm house fancy barn two story colonial or a hammer beam cape. This design adds more vertical elements above the arched bottom chord with the extra volume below. King post truss dividing the gabled space with a single timber off the tie beam the king post is an intriguing and bold design widely used in conjunction with other truss styles. Today we re going to look at 4 basic styles of trusses.

The king post scissor timber truss handles long spans and supports heavy load. We ll explain the difference between these different truss styles as well as answer some questions you may have about building a timber frame truss. It s a clean design easily identified by the manner in which the lower horizontal beam chord joins the two rafters. Custom truss design inquiries are welcome and our trusses can be used in conjunction with any of our standard plans.

The radius cut for the arch should be shallow in order to be cut out of solid sawn timber. It often incorporates two struts on either side that add additional strength and character. Common truss the common truss is as its name implies the truss most often seen in modern timber frames and is both strong and affordable. The style depends first on the owners preference then on whether the building is a home barn church public structure or business along with the nature of its intended use.

You will need to consider factors such as wall height room volume truss spacing and roof slope to arrive at the best variation of the truss for your situation. The lower chord can easily be used in an exposed beam second floor system. Standard truss styles include scissor king post with straight or curved struts modified king post with straight or curved struts queen post and hammer beam with straight or curved struts. The truss is the heart of the timber frame and is functional as well as decorative.

In heavy timber construction this truss combines with an attic or collar tie trusses over a loft area creating the space for a great room.