In this video we will look at the use of a custom roof truss design to create an expansive vaulted ceiling within an open floor plan. This vaulted ceiling will allow ample space for a second story loft bedroom area that is open to the living area below.
Roof trusses are pre-fabricated, triangle shaped wood structures that are engineered to transfer the load of a roof structure to the exterior bearing walls. 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. Trusses are built to order in a factory and then shipped to the construction site..
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The unique custom home we will be looking at was designed and built by Peter Brown and Derek Rinehart in Bozeman, Montana. This residence is unusual in that it is essentially a large 2400 sq ft shop / garage with a 2800 sq ft living quarters attached. This is more than just living quarters, it’s actually a very charming 2 bedroom, 2 ½ bath home. The primary interior design feature is the bedroom loft area overlooking the main living area. Our design challenge was to create the space accommodating the loft
In this case the building width was 45 feet. In order to get the loft overlook effect we were looking for, we would need to use a custom roof truss design to span that distance. We contacted the truss plant at Simkins-Hallin lumber in Bozeman. The truss designers came up with a modified scissor truss for the living area, as well as a truss package for the garage. In this video, extensive use of 3 dimensional modeling illustrates both the design and construction process
Engineered truss systems offer nice solutions for a number of design issues. In this case the combination of a large span and our open loft area requirements presented a problem that was easily solved with the use of a custom roof truss design.
