Garage roof trusses – How to make roof trusses for a garage

How to make garage roof trusses? Well,  owning a car can be an astounding experience, but at the same time this is a huge responsibility, as you have to try and maintain your vehicle in the best possible shape at all times.

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This is why it’s crucial to have a garage, as it will allow you to store your car safe and also bring in some other accessories that will help with car maintenance.

But in order to have a good, reliable and sturdy roof you need some reliable garage roof trusses, as without them your garage roof will start to crumble, and that’s surely something that has to be avoided at all times.

It’s very hard and sometimes quite cumbersome to find the best garage roof trusses, and the installation process is definitely not the easiest one out there.

This is why we have created a small guide which allows you to find the best garage roof trusses and at the same time you will have the opportunity to learn more about how you can install them the right way.

HOW Do You MAKE ROOF TRUSSES FOR A GARAGE?

Sure, it might be simpler to get roof trusses from the store, but if you have the necessary materials you can easily create them on your own.

Garage roof trusses are usually triangular, so this means that they are quite easy to install, however you will need to build them first. If you are wondering how to make roof trusses for a garage, then just follow this small guide!

  1. The first step in creating your roof trusses is to cut down the timber panels to the size that you want for your garage roof. You will need to continually measure the roof span and ensure that the size is ok with the building plan and project.
    If not,  if you have larger trusses this can lead to a lower quality roof and this will increase the possibility of leaks. Find the necessary timber, usually timber panels that are 2×8 inches and then cut them to the desired size.
  2. Once you cut the timber, you will need to secure these panels together. You will need to create a triangle since basically the trusses need to be in a triangular shape for better aerodynamics. Screw the panels and secure them into the desired shape to obtain the desired results.
  3. After the panels are secure and in place, you will need to add the braces, as these allow the trusses to support any additional load. The next step requires you to secure the roof trusses, and you will have to apply them to the frame.
    You need to be certain that you are leaving the best overhang, so do consult with an architect or even a mechanic, as this will allow you to get the best measurement at all times.
  4. The final step here will require you to attach the trusses to the roof frame, as this will provide you with the necessary support. Brace the trusses, check the plump and then see if everything is in one piece. Once the trusses have been created, you can proceed to the installation process.

HOW DO YOU INSTALL ROOF TRUSSES ON A GARAGE?

After you have finished the process of creating your own garage trusses, then you will need to continue with installing them. You don’t know how to install roof trusses on a garage? Just read onward to find out how to do it!

  1. Initially, the first requirement here is to measure the garage area, as this will determine how many trusses you will need, if you have enough or if you need to create more. Once you have the measurements done and the necessary amount of trusses near you, then you can move onward to the next step.
  2. The next logical step here is to figure out the location of each of those trusses. Create a plan and determine where each board will be placed, as this will allow you to obtain the desired outcome faster.
  3. Once you have the marked areas, then all you need to do is to use a drill and screws in order to secure these trusses to the side of the wall. You will have to talk with a person and tell them to help you, because the trusses need to be held if you want to secure them tightly.
  4. You might need to install brackets in the wall if you have some trusses that are located at an angle. These do require a lot of attention, so do try to secure them in the best possible way, because otherwise you are bound to face some issues as time passes, especially if you are located in a region that is prone to tornadoes and other things like that.

While you install the garage roof trusses you do need a person that will help you throughout the whole process, as well as the proper equipment, which will include a ladder, some drilling devices and screws.

Do prepare properly and create a plan beforehand, to ensure that you bring the best experience.

You can use prefab roof trusses for a garage if you want, and the installation process is the same, without any changes. What does change is the fact that you don’t spend your time creating them on your own, instead you purchase them to speed up the construction process.

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Creating garage roof truss plans

Before the whole process, it’s a very good idea to create your own garage roof truss plans. You can work with an architect in order to create these plans, but you do need to add some information here on your own.

The necessary information includes things such as finding the best truss types, and then you will have to work hard in order to find the best possible design for your truss. Do try to create trusses that are as sturdy as possible, especially if you are living in a region where you are prone to climate changes.

You will also have to select the best lumber type, and in this situation you have to focus on the size of the lumber, straightness, quality and, of course, you have to opt for the seasoned or the dried one, as this brings you the highest quality of results in the end.

In your plan you also have to include the other equipment you have to use when installing or creating the trusses, which might include the sawhorses, saws and so on. During the planning process, you have many options to choose from, including the ability to create your own double garage roof trusses, which are much more durable.

Insulating garage roof trusses

There are many methods that you can use for insulating garage roof trusses, but the most popular one is definitely the foam board. The main benefit that it provides is it’s very cheap, yet at the same time it manages to provide the broad coverage that you need very fast.

Another popular method that can be used for insulating the roof trusses comes in the form of fiberglass batting which is a little more expensive, but which does provide some great results, especially in time.

The fiberglass batting is a great insulating method because it’s more durable than foam, and it also resists earthquakes or any other type of damage a lot better and faster, which is a major plus in this regard.

Even the prefab garage roof trusses need insulating, so it doesn’t really matter which type of material is used here, instead the results are those which will dictate the outcome.

How do you raise garage roof trusses?

If you have to raise garage roof trusses, then it can be a little tricky to raise the garage roof, especially because the trusses are mounted in place and any movement that you perform can bring  some very bad results for them.

On top of that, in the case of a trussed roof, all the gable ends don’t have any load bearing features, so you need to be certain that you have a header which will allow you to carry the weight of the wall.

This does require a lot of equipment and it’s not easy to perform at all, you usually need either some raising machines that will allow you to raise the roof from the indoors. Of course, you can also get the same results if you use a crane, depending on the situation.

In conclusion, there are many things that you have to take into account when you create and install garage roof trusses. From their design to the methods you use when building them or the installation process, all of them can be a little tricky to perform.

But if you do find yourself in such a situation, then all you have to do is to read this guide and you will find all the necessary help!

Don’t hesitate to implement these tips as fast as possible, because they will allow you to get a much better set of results and thus maintain your home safe against any type of issues that might appear.


Founder & Editor

Hi, I’m Jim. I was a roofing constructor for 20 years, before deciding to start myrooff.com and gather the best content about roofing. I love woodworking and construction and it was only natural for me to start this passion project of mine. Thank you for visitng.