DIY Trusses

Make the measurements for one truss and follow those measurements for all of the trusses you want to build. The measurements will depend on the span of your roof. Measure the width of the roof and the height from where you will attach the truss.

Cut a 2-by-6 wood plank to the appropriate lengths for your desired size finished truss with a table saw. Make all of the angled cuts according to the degree you want the truss to be.

Lay out the top cord pieces on the ground in front of you so the point faces upward. Make sure the pieces fit together smoothly and form a triangle the size of the steepness of the roof. The steepness will be the angle from where you will attach the base of the truss up to the highest point of the roof.

Attach the top pieces together with galvanized steel connector plates. The plate should overlap the seam where the wood meets at least 2 inches.

Secure the plates in place by inserting heavy-duty screws through the holes in the plate with a power drill.

Place the bottom cord piece below the upper cord to form a closed triangle. Attach the bottom cord to the top with the connector plates and screws.

Lay the web members inside the triangle. They should form a ‘V’ shape, whose middle is centered with the upper point of the top cord. Cut the web members to size, according to the space where you will attach them.

Attach the web members to the top and bottom cord with the connector plates and screws.

Repeat with all of the cut 2 by 6 until you have as many trusses as you want.