How To Build Gambrel Roof Trusses For A Shed

How to build simple roof truss for shed.

How to build gambrel roof trusses for a shed. Lay a piece of 10 ft 5 ft 3 0 m 1 5 m plywood on the floor. Save 8 rafter beams for later. This piece of plywood represents the dimensions for your roof and will serve as an assembly site for your rafters. If you have a 10 ft 3 0 m wide shed your roof will be 10 ft 3 0 m wide and 5 ft 1 5 m tall.

Using a pen trace the inside and outside bends of the trusses on the cardboard making what should look like a double l shape. 4 identical truss pieces for your gambrel shed roof. These will be used to make the roof ends. Nail in place to attach the trusses to the foundation of your shed and to keep them in place for the addition of your roof.

If you want to add add style and character to the gambrel roof shed you need to cut several pieces of 1 4 plywood and attach them to the overhangs components. Once everything is in place get some scrap pieces of 2 4 and place each one along the framed truss to make an outline. Use 1 1 2 finishing nails to lock the plywood into place. They need to be secure for permanent use.

Once all pieces are cut we can lay them out together so that they form a 10 wide gambrel truss. Attach the truss firmly to your shed. Transfer measurements to 2x4 s. Use 6 screws per gusset 3 into each beam.

It also helps to add metal angle brackets at the bearing points where your trusses meet your shed. Lay down the piece of plywood in an area with ample space. Repeat this to join sets of 4 rafter beams together with 3 gussets then flip each one over and add 3 more gussets on the other side except for 2 arches which only have gussets on one side. However a gambrel truss roof uses a howe truss design beneath the top chords of the gambrel to reinforce the roof structure and extend the span.

Build a temporary truss jig by screwing 2 long 2 4 s to adjacent edges of the floor at 90 degrees to each other. Align them to the edges of the floor and attach with 3 to 4 screws along their length. Next lay four of the cut boards on top of the cardboard in the manner in which they will be assembled. Our next step is to transfer these measurements to a 2x4 and cut 4 pieces to form our first truss.

Continue the project by fitting the soffit on the opposite side of the shed. This way the floor acts as a giant builders square.