Traditional Timber Roof Construction Uk

Elm sweet chestnut hornbeam and other timbers were also used.

Traditional timber roof construction uk.

Plentiful oak forests and a rich tradition in timber framed building were significant reasons for this. The cross frames include tie beams as they do in box framed construction. There are two basic methods of pitched roof construction. It is still the roof material of choice for housebuilders and self builders irrespective of whether they are building in traditional or contemporary styles or whether they are creating pitched or flat roofs.

This house s roof construction used prefabricated trusses from turner timber with dormer windows factored into the design on the front elevation image credit. Whilst you can have tiled roofs of 10 15 these are really flat roof construction with a cosmetic covering of tiles. The predominant timber species used for structural purposes in england and this is an immensely strong durable and long grained timber. A cut roof this is the traditional method of cutting the timber on site and building up the roof using rafters ridge boards joists and purlins etc the exact details being determined by the size of roof size of timbers etc.

Roof construction pitched room traditional joinery. This form makes use of the purlin roof. Complex and bespoke roof designs can be implemented. Floor joists typically strong enough for light storage applications.

Trussed roofs are available in fink truss and open or attic truss options detailed below. Pitched roofs examples of pitched roofs. If your main interest is in flat roofs then you can learn more by reading flat roof construction part 4. A truss roof using factory made trusses which are delivered to site complete and just erected.

Trada a trade association with a strong reputation for research and publication on all things timber have published span tables in a softback book called eurocode 5 span tables. Roof and wall elements are structurally united within each cross frame. The more timber was needed to build the roof structure to span the space below. Timber has been the traditional material for building roofs as far back as early saxon times and beyond.

Most of the steepest pitched roofs in england survive in the east where ironically it is driest. In devon and cornwall rainfall is much higher but there was a. Creates a strong roof structure with mostly open loft space. Traditionally roofs were constructed on site using sawn timber typically with all joints simply nailed together.

A pitched or sloping roof has a pitch of at least 15 but often much more. Post and truss below right is by far the most common surviving timber framed building form. However for practical purposes the self builder will still find the span tables in the old. Timbers were used unseasoned shortly after felling.

50mm wide by 75mm 100mm or 125mm deep are allcommon. Trussed roofing appeared in the uk in the 1960s and rapidly took over the new housebuilding scene. The timbers are often 400mm or so centres and varyin size according to span.