Gambrel Attic Truss Design and Planning Guide

A gambrel attic truss is a type of roof truss that features two slopes, with the lower slope being steeper than the upper slope. This design allows for a larger living space in the attic.

The gambrel attic truss is ideal for homes with a lot of storage needs, as it provides a generous amount of vertical space. With a gambrel attic truss, you can store items like luggage, seasonal decorations, and out-of-season clothing.

The truss's design also allows for a full-sized door to be installed, making it easy to access the attic storage space. This is a major advantage over traditional truss designs, which often require smaller doors or hatches.

The gambrel attic truss can be designed to fit any size home, from small cottages to large mansions. Its versatility makes it a popular choice among builders and homeowners alike.

A gambrel attic truss is a type of roof truss that's commonly used in homes and buildings with unique roof designs. It's essentially a double-sloped truss with a steeper upper slope and a shallower lower slope.

The basic components of a gambrel truss include a top chord or rafter, posts, a bottom chord, diagonals, and a beam. These components work together to provide structural support and stability to the roof.

A gambrel truss is often used in barns and other agricultural buildings due to its unique design. The steeper upper slope allows for more storage space in the attic area.

Here's a breakdown of the typical members found in a gambrel truss:

These members are carefully designed and constructed to work together seamlessly, providing a strong and stable foundation for the roof.

A gambrel attic truss is a type of truss that allows for a larger attic space by using two slopes to create a peaked roof.

The gambrel truss design is ideal for homes with a steep roof pitch, typically between 24 and 36 degrees. This design also allows for a larger attic space, which can be used for storage or living areas.

The truss's design enables it to support heavy loads, including snow and wind, while also providing a strong and stable structure for the roof.

The Designer is where the magic happens. You can use our web-based app to determine the size and shape of your gambrel attic truss based on various user inputs.

Our app takes into account the specific needs of your project, allowing you to customize the design of your gambrel attic truss.

With our web-based app, you can easily input the necessary information to get an accurate measurement of your gambrel attic truss.

Analysis is a crucial step in the design and planning process. The Gambrel Truss Analysis example shows how to calculate compression and tension forces of truss members using three equilibrium equations.

A simplified load of 2 kN/m is used, which equals a snow load of 1 kN/m and a truss spacing of 2m. This load is then approximated as point loads in the nodes to make calculations easier.

The point loads applied to nodes (a) and (f) are calculated as 1 kN each. Be careful, though - point loads are only transformed this way for snow load, and dead, wind, and live loads are applied differently.

The point loads applied to nodes (g) and (h) are calculated as 2.0 kN each. This is a crucial step in understanding how loads are distributed throughout the truss.

The point loads applied to nodes (i) and (k) are calculated as 4.0 kN each, taking into account the length of the truss.

A gambrel attic truss is made up of several key components, including truss pieces and gusset plates.

The truss pieces are cut to specific lengths and angles, with the top measurement being 3' 10" long and the angles cut at 22.5 degrees off each end.

To achieve these precise measurements, use a speed square to get the angles right.

For a gambrel shed, the width is a crucial measurement. You can build a shed up to 12' wide, but for anything larger, it's best to have a truss manufacturer create the trusses for safety reasons.

The example provided in the article is for a 10' wide barn, which is a good starting point. This width is achieved by cutting four pieces to form the first truss, with each piece measuring a specific width.

To ensure accuracy, it's essential to check that the width of your truss is exactly 10' from one bottom side to the other. This measurement is critical for the first truss, as any adjustments made will need to be recorded to ensure the remaining trusses are identical.

You'll need to cut and attach gusset plates to complete the truss, with six total plates made from 1/2" material like OSB or plywood.

Truss pieces are the building blocks of your shed's roof, and getting them right is crucial. Each truss piece will be 3' 10" long on the top measurement.

To determine the length of your truss pieces, you'll need to draw lines between three points to represent the top of the trusses. Measure down 3 1/2" off each line to represent a full 2x4.

The angles cut on the ends of your truss pieces will be 22.5 degrees each, making it easier to get accurate measurements with a speed square.

Assembling trusses for your shed roof usually requires going 2' on center, but 16" on center is better for added strength and support. This will also determine if you need one or two top plates.

For a gambrel truss, you'll need to cut four pieces to form the first truss, and check to make sure the width of your truss is exactly 10' from one bottom side to the other.

A truss is essentially the backbone of your roof, providing support and stability. It's usually made from wood or metal and consists of interconnected triangles that distribute the weight of the roof evenly across the walls.

To build a gambrel truss, you'll need to cut and assemble several pieces of wood, typically 2x4s, with specific measurements and angles. The end angles of each truss piece will be 22.5 degrees, and each truss will consist of 10 pieces.

The width of your truss is crucial, and for a 10-foot wide shed, it's essential to ensure it measures exactly 10 feet from one bottom side to the other. This will ensure the truss fits correctly and provides the necessary support.

Gambrel trusses have two slopes on each side, allowing for maximum attic space. This design maximizes headroom in the attic while providing a classic barn-like appearance to the structure.

Roof trusses can be made from a variety of materials, including wood and metal, and come in different shapes and sizes. For a gambrel truss, you'll typically need 4 truss members and 6 gusset plates made from 1/2" material like OSB or plywood.

The spacing of trusses is also important, and for a shed roof, 16" on center is better than 2' on center, providing additional strength and support. If you're using metal mending plates instead of wooden gusset plates, make sure to attach them on both sides of the truss.

Sheeting the roof requires some care, as panels should be nailed 8" along the perimeters and 12" in the field or inside trusses to ensure strength.

To finish the sheeting on the first side, follow the same procedure as the opposite side to maintain consistency.

Staggering panel joints is crucial for roof strength, so make sure to plan this step carefully in your construction process.

Building a jig is a crucial step in constructing your shed. It's essential to ensure that the truss pieces line up correctly and fit your 10' wide shed.

To make a jig, start by cutting 4 more truss pieces and lining them up in your jig. Continue nailing on gusset plates to secure them in place.

Truss ends are typically toe-nailed to the top plate with 3-16d nails per end. This will provide a solid foundation for your jig.

As you continue with the roof sheeting process, it's essential to remember that panels should be nailed 8" along the perimeter and 12" in the field or inside trusses for added strength.

Now that the top sheets are in place and the roof is square, you can focus on finishing the sheeting on the first side, then move on to the opposite side.

To ensure stability, stagger the panel joints, as this will help distribute the weight evenly across the roof.

The goal is to create a solid foundation for the next layers of roofing material, so take your time and make sure each panel is securely nailed in place.

Attach Gusset Plates with precision and care.

Use 8d common nails for this task.

You'll need 10 nails per connection, and there are 3 connection spots on the truss.

This means you'll use 30 nails in total for this step.

Gusset plates are nailed to the truss at both ends.

You'll need 5 nails for each end, for a total of 10 nails.

Structural Support is crucial to a roof's stability. Roof trusses are designed to distribute the weight of the roof evenly, preventing sagging and ensuring the roof can withstand the elements.

One of the key functions of roof trusses is to provide structural support to your roof. By doing so, they help prevent damage from heavy snowfall or strong winds.

Roof trusses are the backbone of your roof, literally holding it all together. Without them, the roof would be prone to collapse under the weight of its own materials.

Structural support is achieved through the careful design and assembly of roof trusses. By spanning distances and providing support, they keep your roof safe and sound.

Installing roof trusses is a breeze, thanks to their prefabricated design, which saves time and hassle during the construction process.

This streamlined installation process allows for faster project completion, reducing labor costs and minimizing disruption to your daily life.

Roof trusses are made to be easy to install, so you can focus on other aspects of the construction project without getting bogged down in complicated setup.

With prefabricated roof trusses, you can expect to save time and money on labor costs, making the construction process more efficient and cost-effective.

Venting and overhangs are crucial components of a gambrel shed's construction. Upper end paneling is installed on both ends of our gambrel shed.

You can accomplish venting by placing gable end vents on both ends up close to your ridge, or a ridge vent can be installed.

Overhangs can be constructed of 2x6's laid flat or toe-nailed on edge, which are called fly rafters.

Another method of building front and rear overhangs is to take 2 trusses and make a ladder assembly out of them by nailing 2x4 struts between them.

These ladder assemblies can be nailed to the outside shed ends.

If you choose to do the ladder overhang assemblies, they can actually be installed before your roof sheeting is put down.

This way you can start your sheeting on the outside edges of your overhangs and much more strength will be gained from this.

Sheet the overhangs, and add corner blocking and side overhangs.

Gambrel attic trusses are a great choice for barns and garages because they allow for maximum attic space.

The pitched or common truss is a type of truss used for roof construction, and it's characterized by its triangular shape.

Gambrel trusses have two slopes on each side, which maximizes headroom in the attic. They provide a classic barn-like appearance to the structure.

A 28' gambrel attic truss has a 24/12 lower pitch and 7/12 upper pitch with 12" overhang, and it's manufactured as a piggyback truss to allow for transportation.

The parallel chord or flat truss is often used for floor construction, but it can also be used in roof applications, and it gets its name from having parallel top and bottom chords.

A 30' gambrel attic truss has a 24/12 lower pitch and 7/12 upper pitch with 12" overhang, and it allows for a larger attic space with a 9'-9" ceiling and 18'-2" width.

The chord size and web configuration of trusses are determined by span, load, and spacing, and all truss designs are optimized to provide the most economical configuration for the specific application.

A 32' gambrel attic truss has a 22/12 lower pitch and 7/12 upper pitch with 12" overhang, and it's manufactured as a piggyback truss to allow for transportation due to the 13'-6" height restriction.

Gambrel attic trusses offer a range of types and options to suit different needs and budgets.

You can choose from a traditional gambrel truss, which features a symmetrical design with two slopes, or a modified gambrel truss, which has a more complex design with multiple slopes and angles.

For a more rustic look, consider a post-and-beam gambrel truss, which uses exposed beams to create a cozy and welcoming atmosphere.

In terms of materials, gambrel trusses can be made from a variety of wood types, including spruce, fir, and pine, with spruce being the most common choice due to its strength and durability.

Barn style sheds offer more storage in the attic. A gambrel style shed roof offers the most storage space in the attic when compared to a gable or saltbox style shed roof.

The gambrel style roof is a key feature of barn style sheds. It allows for a larger attic space, perfect for storing items like seasonal decorations or out-of-season clothing.

The top and side truss members of a gambrel shed are equal in length and end angle measurements. This design provides maximum storage space in the attic.

A 10 foot wide shed is a good example of a gambrel style shed. Each truss in this shed will consist of 10 pieces, including 4 truss members and 6 gusset plates.

Instead of using wooden gusset plates, you can use metal mending plates on both sides of the truss joints. This is a great option for added durability and stability.

The two basic types of trusses are the pitched or common truss and the parallel chord or flat truss. The pitched truss is characterized by its triangular shape and is most often used for roof construction.

The pitched truss has a variety of names based on its web configuration, such as the King Post, Fan, Fink, or Howe truss. Some trusses are optimized for specific applications, with the chord size and web configuration determined by span, load, and spacing.

The parallel chord truss, on the other hand, gets its name from having parallel top and bottom chords, and is often used for floor construction, but can also be used in roof applications. This type of truss is particularly useful for larger spaces, as it allows for a more even distribution of weight.

A 4x2 Floor Truss with Chase is a specific example of a parallel chord truss, designed for floor construction. Similarly, a 2x4 Floor or Roof Truss can be designed with a chase, providing additional support and stability.