There are a number of truss styles that do not use a horizontal bottom chord the scissor truss for instance.
Roof truss without bottom chord.
The span in short is the length of the bottom of the truss.
See gusset construction below.
There are three parts to the roof truss that you have to know.
About the bottom chord.
The cap truss is very similar to a gable truss with webs transferring loads vertically into the base truss below it.
There may be an overhang at the end of a cantilever.
Finally there are the gussets that hold the framed truss together.
A triangle is the simplest form of a truss and the bottom chord is the base piece.
The bottom chord which is the bottom of the framed truss.
They will serve as rafters.
Some spans have a lower rate per foot than others.
Factors that affect truss pricing and cost.
And using steel as a construction material can help to redirect the tensions through materials more.
On a typical truss they will be made from 2 x 4 s.
For instance additional chords can be installed low enough to recreate trusses but high enough to accommodate a raised vehicle.
The bottom chord is also called a scissors truss.
For traditionally spaced trusses the bottom chord is cut out of 2x4 or 2x6 dimension lumber but can also be cut out of 2x8 2x10 2x12 and even lvl material for roof trusses.
Factors that determine the size of the bottom chord include on center spacing dead loads.
Bottom chords is at least 3 12 or the bottom chord pitch is no more than half the top chord pitch.
Then there is the top chord or rafters that are angled to make the roof pitch.
The chord s length must match the width of the roof.
Flat the most economical flat truss for a roof is provided when the depth of the truss in inches is approximately equal to 7 of the span in inches.
The bottom chord establishes the lower edge of a truss.
The ideal way to position the breaks is to match them up with the webbing.
The top chord or chords are the single most important elements of a roof truss.
The bottom chord then extends past the bearing wall.
The bottom chord therefore carries combined stress of both tension and bending of the truss.
A cantilever truss allows for level coverage past the exterior wall such as patios porches entryways and other offsets in the building elevation by moving one or both bearings inward from the end of the bottom chord up to 1 4 of the span.
The bottom chord will have breaks in it.