Traditional Cut Roof

Building with them is known as stick framing.

Traditional cut roof.

The triangular shape of the truss adds stability and support by distributing weight away from the exterior walls. Traditional or cut roofs usually comprise a series of sloping timbers rafters fixed to a wall plate at their feet and a ridge board or possibly a wall plate at their head. Not only is the volume large enough to convert into living space but the structure can generally be easily altered. The traditional option is steeply pitched rarely less than 35.

A roof truss consists of one or more triangular units constructed of straight pieces that are connected at the ends by joints. Dormer windows require their own mini roofs and great care must be given to their detailing and construction. Rafters are the traditional means of framing a roof. The finished structure is readily adaptable.

The rafters are the main load bearing elements of the roof. The roof can be cut in the traditional way or fabricated from mono trusses. Prefabricated trussed rafters also have distinct advantages over traditional cut roofs by being able to clear greater spans without the need for additional supports. Our modern design software allows the roof trusses to be designed for virtually any roof shape.

Every piece is measured cut and fastened together to form the rafter. A cut roof this is the traditional method of cutting the timber on site and building up the roof using rafters ridge boards joists and purlins etc the exact details being determined by the size of roof size of timbers etc. This reflects the weatherproofing requirements of older roofing materials like thatch and peg tiles. The flexibility of roof trusses is undoubtedly what sets them apart from other methods of construction in this area.

50mm wide by 75mm 100mm or 125mm deep are all common. They span from the wallplate to the ridge board providing a platform for the underlay battens and tiles. The timbers are often 400mm or so centres and vary in size according to span. This means that each rafter is built on the job site using dimensional lumber.