Traditional Timber Roof Construction Uk

Most of the steepest pitched roofs in england survive in the east where ironically it is driest.

Traditional timber roof construction uk. Roof construction pitched room traditional joinery. The timbers are often 400mm or so centres and varyin size according to span. Floor joists typically strong enough for light storage applications. Complex and bespoke roof designs can be implemented.

In devon and cornwall rainfall is much higher but there was a. Whilst you can have tiled roofs of 10 15 these are really flat roof construction with a cosmetic covering of tiles. Plentiful oak forests and a rich tradition in timber framed building were significant reasons for this. However for practical purposes the self builder will still find the span tables in the old.

50mm wide by 75mm 100mm or 125mm deep are allcommon. Elm sweet chestnut hornbeam and other timbers were also used. Traditional or cut roofs usually comprise a series of sloping timbers rafters fixed to a wall plate at their feet and a ridge board or possibly awall plate at their head. Creates a strong roof structure with mostly open loft space.

The more timber was needed to build the roof structure to span the space below. A truss roof using factory made trusses which are delivered to site complete and just erected. The predominant timber species used for structural purposes in england and this is an immensely strong durable and long grained timber. Trussed roofing appeared in the uk in the 1960s and rapidly took over the new housebuilding scene.

Traditionally roofs were constructed on site using sawn timber typically with all joints simply nailed together. Pitched roofs examples of pitched roofs. For solid timber members in floors ceilings and roofs for dwellings and various companies do online calculation software. 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.

A pitched or sloping roof has a pitch of at least 15 but often much more. This house s roof construction used prefabricated trusses from turner timber with dormer windows factored into the design on the front elevation image credit. Post and truss below right is by far the most common surviving timber framed building form. 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.

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. Green oak and other. Timber has been the traditional material for building roofs as far back as early saxon times and beyond. If your main interest is in flat roofs then you can learn more by reading flat roof construction part 4.

Timbers were used unseasoned shortly after felling. Roof and wall elements are structurally united within each cross frame. Trussed roofs are available in fink truss and open or attic truss options detailed below.