Roofs

Stick-built roofs are constructed on site by roofing carpenters. They consist of battens over rafters that are supported on underpurlins and struts. The ceiling plane includes ceiling joists, hanging beams, strutting beams, and counter beams. 

Stick-built roofs have been used in most parts of Australia for decades, and in some parts of the country they are still the predominant method of construction. Timber is delivered to site in packs and individual elements are cut to length by carpenters on site and installed one-by-one into the building.

LVL products are often used in stick-built roofs as:

• Underpurlins 
• Struts 
• Hanging beams 
• Strutting beams
• Joists
• Battens. 

Wesbeam e-joists can be used as long-span rafters in skillion (monoslope) roofs. 

Click here for Wesbeam LVL roofing products

Trusses are fabricated assemblies that consist of pieces of timber connected to form a structural system that incorporates triangular shapes. (The triangle is a particularly strong and stiff shape that has been used in construction systems for centuries.) 

Trusses are a fast and efficient roof construction system and are usually much lighter than other systems for equivalent spans. Lightweight timber trusses can be made in almost any size and shape and can achieve spans up to 30 m, but transport limitations usually restrict practical spans to around 25 m. 

Light nailplate trusses are designed using software and manufactured for specific projects by licensed fabricators using proprietary nailplate connectors. The specialised software can generate designs for highly complex roof forms. Manufacturers provide guidance documents for transport, lifting and installation. 

LVL provides cost-effective options for:

• Bottom and top chords of highly loaded trusses such as girder trusses (larger trusses that support standard trusses)
• Long-span trusses in commercial buildings 
• Standard roof trusses for houses in cyclonic areas
• Battens