Roof trusses offer a number of advantages compared to traditional roofing methods. Not only can a bespoke roof truss add character and style to a building, it also offers additional support to your roof, improving the overall longevity of your home – especially during the harsher winter months.
 
Before selecting a roof truss for your home, it’s essential you know the range of designs that roof trusses are available in.

Each design has a different purpose and advantage, so it’s necessary to select the style which suits the requirements of your home.
 
Here are some popular designs which can be found within homes and commercial buildings across roof trusses in the UK.

King Post Truss

Typically crafted from strong timber, this particular type of truss can span up to 8m. It is the most simple truss design, with the fewest number of truss members needed.
 
Despite its simplicity, a king’s post truss is incredibly durable, and can be found in a number of buildings. Due to its size, this type of truss can fit within a range of house sizes and designs.
 
The king’s post style truss has been used within construction since the Roman Empire, which reflects the reliability of this simplistic yet sturdy truss design.

Raised Heel Truss

Raised heel roof trusses are often used to improve the efficiency of a home. Raised heel truss designs have an additional vertical member added to the truss which raises the top chord at the eave.
 
This added space allows for a denser amount of insulation to be installed within the ceiling and attic of a home, which helps to reduce energy and heating bills in the long run.

Queen Post Truss

A queen post truss design is able to span across a longer opening than a king post truss. It features two vertical ‘queen’ posts and two principal rafters.

This roof truss was popular in Italy during the 16th century, as is often referred to as a ‘palladiana’ truss.
 
Much like the king post truss, queen post truss designs are quite simple, yet they still offer reliable support to suit a number of different buildings.

Hammerbeam Truss

The Hammerbeam truss can typically be found within buildings of worship, most notably in the Westminster Hall in London – that of which spans an impressive 20 metres. This particular truss design has a rather decorative appearance, and allows for larger spaces to be spanned appropriately.