Wood

Wood trusses are widely used in single and multi-family residential, institutional, agricultural and commercial construction. Their high strength-to-weight ratios permit long spans, offering greater flexibility in floor plan layouts. They can be designed in almost any shape or size, restricted only by manufacturing capabilities, shipping limitations and handling considerations.

The design and manufacture/fabrication of metal plate connected wood trusses is, in modern truss operations, accomplished by computer. An engineering drawing is produced by the computer detailing the forces that develop in each chord and web under the given design loads. Engineering specifications also include the truss dimensions and pitch, lumber sizes, species, dimension/size and grade of wood for each chord and web. The gauge, size and orientation of each metal connector plate is precisely specified as well as the size, strength and location of permanent bracing.

Trusses are, in the USA, most often made with southern pine dimension lumber. Our preference is Southern Yellow Pine (SYP), however, from time to time, and in some areas, Douglas fir and the woods of the spruce-pine-fir (SPF) group are used.