Types of Trusses Including Raised Heel Scissor

Raised heel scissor trusses are a type of truss that offers improved structural integrity and aesthetic appeal. They are commonly used in residential construction.

A raised heel scissor truss is a variation of the scissor truss that features a raised heel, which provides additional space for insulation and wiring. This design allows for more flexibility in the truss's layout.

Scissor trusses are a popular choice for residential construction due to their efficiency and cost-effectiveness. They are often used in homes with vaulted ceilings.

Raised heel scissor trusses are particularly well-suited for homes with large windows or doors, as they allow for more headroom and easier installation of exterior finishes.

Consider reading: Exposed Timber Roof Trusses

In Chief Architect, you can create an energy heel truss by specifying the desired energy heel height as a positive Raise Off Plate value in the Build Roof dialog. This will help reduce condensation issues.

To create a raised-heel roof truss, you need to check Trusses (no Birdsmouth) in the Build Roof dialog and uncheck Automatic Birdsmouth Cut. This type of truss is mostly found in humid regions because it provides higher energy efficiency.

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A raised-heel roof truss can also offer a full-depth attic space as it can be designed to largely span a huge area. However, the cost of a raised-heel roof truss can go higher due to the additional insulation work and soffit siding it requires.

In Chief Architect, roof trusses are generated in the space between roof planes and ceiling planes. When a vaulted ceiling has a different pitch than the roof planes above, scissor trusses are produced. This type of truss is often selected for buildings with cathedral style ceilings.

Here are some key characteristics of different types of trusses:

A parallel-chord truss has the top and bottom chords of the truss follow the same slope. To create a parallel-chord truss in Chief Architect, you need to create a vaulted ceiling with the same slope as the roof directly above it.

Suggestion: Parallel Chord Truss Roof

Roof truss designs can be quite diverse, but there are three major types to consider: raised-heel, scissor-style, and parallel-chord trusses. The raised-heel roof truss is mostly found in humid regions because it provides higher energy efficiency by producing an effective vapour barrier and reduces condensation issues.

Additional reading: Raised Garden Bed

The scissor-style roof truss design is often selected for buildings with cathedral style ceilings. This design option minimizes the need to utilize the bearing beam rather than being horizontal, which most trusses are made of.

A scissor truss is created when a vaulted ceiling has a different pitch than the roof planes above, resulting in scissor trusses being produced. This is a key feature of Chief Architect software.

The parallel-chord roof truss has the simplest design but it’s both aesthetically pleasing and functional. On the other hand, thermal bridging may reduce the energy efficiency and the numerous wooden members that are required make this option less preferable.

Here are some key features of each roof truss design:

To create a raised-heel roof truss, you need to specify the desired energy heel height as a positive Raise Off Plate value in the Build Roof dialog.