Many years of construction practice has shown that pitched roofs are currently the most popular and in demand. This is not surprising, because they have proven themselves on the positive side for more than one decade. Over time, many varieties and options for roofing have appeared. Accordingly, the truss structures of pitched roofs also differ in installation features and purpose. Now we will take a closer look at what their features and differences are.
Characteristics of truss systems
For each type of structure, it is developed with the calculation of what the pitched roof will be in the future, and what load it must withstand.
Correctly executed design mansard roof truss system should be capable of withstanding heavy loads. First of all - the weight of the roofing, as well as the weight of the snow cover, the impact of strong winds. In some regions, seismic activity and climatic features are also taken into account.
There are two types of loads on the system - permanent and temporary. Permanent loads are the own weight of the rafters and the total weight of protective materials, insulation and roofing material.
Live loads include wind and snow, as well as the stay of people on the roof for repairs, the weight of tools and equipment intended for roof maintenance.
Since pitched roofs and their designs have many options, it is possible to choose the best suitable roof for each building.
The main types of pitched roofs
There are several basic types of roofing, which in turn are divided into a large number of options. The simplest and most reliable structures include single-pitched and double-pitched types of roofs.
Roofs with four slopes can be considered no less popular. They are divided into hip, semi-hip and tent. The first option is two slopes on the sides of the house in the form of a trapezoid, and two frontal ones - triangular in shape.
The tented version, which often has a 4 pitched roof, is a type of roof where all the slopes are triangular in shape and rise up in the form of a pyramid and meet at one point.
Roofs that are more complex in design and execution include broken, pyramidal, multi-gabled, domed, conical, mansard, vaulted, etc. roofs. The larger the building and the richer the imagination and capabilities of the owner, the more pretentious and complex the style and construction of the roof can be.
Note! Of course, shed roofs are usually erected not on residential buildings, but on outbuildings. But gable and four-slope can be called the most popular, in relation to country houses, cottages, buildings of small and medium size.
Components of the roof structure
Any truss system consists of individual elements. If you looked at projects of houses with a gable roof, you probably paid attention to the drawings of the roof. Here are the main elements that should be included in it.
- The basis of the roof, an analogue of the foundation, laid along the outer walls - Mauerlat. It is made of massive beams and serves as a support for future rafters.
- Rafter legs serving as a supporting element for the roof. They are also made of strong and reliable timber, as, for example, shed roof rafters.
- There are runs for the top of the roof. They are attached either in the middle or between the ends of the rafter legs.
- To strengthen the rigidity of the structure, a spacer or tightening is used. It connects the opposite sides of the Mauerlat.
- The element located in the center of the structure, under the ridge, is called the rack.It serves as a support for the rafter legs and transfers the weight to the puff.
- Struts are used to increase rigidity and evenly distribute the weight of the rafter legs. These are inclined bars that run from the bottom of the rack to the middle of the rafter leg, thus supporting it. Longitudinal struts are located between the rafter legs.
- If the structure is located simultaneously on two spans, a bed is used for additional reinforcement.
- Bars or boards laid across the rafter legs, which serve for further laying of protection, insulation and roofing, are called crates.
Characteristics and dimensions of materials
To create a roof structure, bars and boards are used. When choosing the hardness and thickness of the material, the types of pitched roofs, as well as the dimensions of the house and, accordingly, the future rafter system, are necessarily taken into account.
First of all, take into account the length of the rafters and the distance between them. Between rafters up to three meters long, the distance from 120 to 180 cm will be optimal. The cross section of the beam in this case will be from 8 × 10 cm to 9 × 10 cm.
With rafters four meters long, a distance is taken from 100 to 180 cm, a section from 8 × 16 to 9 × 18 cm.
For six-meter rafters, the desired distance is from 100 to 140 cm, and the beam section is from 8 × 20 to 10 × 20 cm.
If your roof will have four slopes, then the device 4 of the pitched roof involves attaching rafters and battens around the entire perimeter of the laid Mauerlat. Therefore, the footage of the required timber for two additional slopes should also be taken into account.
For mounting a relatively small roof, you can not use struts, but it is recommended to make racks so that the structure is not too weak, since truss system, for example, a hipped roof should serve long and reliably.
Required ramp slope
For roofs of different types, there is a line of slopes. It can vary from region and climatic features, but it is better to deviate minimally from the main parameters.
- For a metal roof, the slope is from 16° to 60°.
- Mineral materials such as tiles, slates - from 27° to 45°, in rare cases up to 60°
- Roofing made of wood (shingle or shingle) allows a slope of about 18 °.
- Resin and bituminous materials like a slope of 5° to 30°.
What to take into account
Before deciding which roof is best to make, decide, first of all, in your tastes and preferences. Naturally, they must match your capabilities.
A complex roof on a small house will look cumbersome, therefore, everything should be in harmony. If you are facing a problem - how to make a four-pitched roof, look not only at the options for its varieties.
Advice! It is advisable for you to study the scheme and principle of construction of such roofs. For self-manufacturing and installation of your roof, it will be very useful to find out as many details as possible. You should not make a roof with a large number of turrets, fractures and drops, if it is possible to simplify the design. The fact is that the roof should not only harmoniously fit into the architectural solution of the whole house as a whole. It should carry the maximum benefit with a minimum of installation costs and possible repairs in the future.
If your house or cottage is not huge, and you want to use the entire area to the maximum benefit, take a closer look at the mansard roof option.
This type is often called a broken roof. Having made a similar design, you can make a living space out of the attic space. For owners of small private houses or cottages, this option will be acceptable.
Of course, you will have to spend a little more on skylights and insulation. But you will no longer have problems with the construction of an additional floor.
Recently, more and more often you can find houses with a pitched roof in different versions. However, there are lovers not only original, but also practical.
If, for one house, you can adapt the attic for a living room, then why not adapt a flat roof for a place for summer holidays?
Previously, a flat roof was a privilege of high-rise buildings and non-residential premises. Now it is often adapted for arranging areas for recreation, entertainment, flower beds, even pools.
To drain water, the roof should be erected with a very slight slope. The cost of its construction will require a minimum, but summer holidays on it can be arranged with comfort worthy of a resort.
Of the minuses, only poor ventilation and not always competent work of designers who are simply obliged to design such a roof as attractively as possible can be noted.
The choice of the type, size and configuration of the roof is solely your right. The main thing is that the choice in the future does not upset not external qualities, not service life.
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