Understanding truss plates and timber fittings

For roofing jobs or building with timber, it’s often best to use these fittings for structural integrity.

Let’s take a look into the fascinating, and useful, world of truss and timber fittings. A lot of these fittings are used in the manufacture of trusses, which form the structure of the roof of a house, but they have other uses too. So whether you’re thinking about building a lapa for your braai area or just curious about how roofs are put together, read on!

Truss plates are the unsung heroes of roof construction. Made of galvanized steel, these staggered-tooth connector plates are designed for joining wood truss rafters. The teeth of these connectors are hammered into the timber at right angles, which is not just simple, but also incredibly effective. These plates come in various lengths and thicknesses and are coated in zinc or zinc-aluminium alloy for durability. Also known by names such as stud ties, metal connecting plates, mending plates and nail plates, they play a crucial role in transmitting loads in wood structures.

Here’s a quick tip for joining two pieces of timber with a truss plate. The trick is to cut the timber to a 45° angle before joining them – the nail plate is then just needed to hold the timber together, not to carry the load.

When it comes to mounting rafters to walls, hanger brackets are your go-to solution. Available in various sizes, these brackets ensure that the load is transferred through the timber onto the wall, with the bracket merely preventing movement. These brackets are a simple but effective way to distribute weight and maintain structural integrity.

Hurricane brackets, also known as rafter or truss ties, are very useful for holding timber together and preventing separation, especially in situations such as keeping a roof secure in wind.

Another simple and versatile option is the L bracket, which is perfect for joining timbers at right angles. And let’s not overlook strapping – bendable, versatile and perfect for joining items that are irregular shapes or joining timber at different angles. These are great for building with gumpoles, for example.

The key takeaway in any DIY project, especially when dealing with structures, is ensuring safety and load-bearing capacity. If you’re building or strengthening a simple structure, you’ll find the right truss plate or fitting for the job. As for building trusses themselves – that’s best left to the professionals. Builders offers the service of designing, manufacturing and delivering trusses, but they also stock every timber fitting you can think of, both in-store and online at builders.co.za.