
One of the many questions professionals at a roof truss company in San Diego are asked is, “How well do roof trusses withstand natural disasters such as high winds associated with storms?” The answer to this question is that, with just a few modifications, Roof Truss Manufacturers in San Diego can create trusses that withstand high wind speeds and keep homeowners safe in all types of weather.
How Sturdy Are Wood Trusses?
With just a few modifications, wood trusses can be built to withstand winds up to 150 miles per hour, far greater than most Californians would ever see. In Florida, where hurricanes are a fact of life, all roofing must be built to withstand 146 mile per hour winds. In order to accomplish this, roof trusses are reinforced with metal ties and strapping. They also use slightly stronger and larger members of the trusses for a sturdier structure. Additionally, all trusses are put together with screws rather than nails. The trusses are then strapped to the concrete core of each wall using hurricane straps.
While this much wind resistance is not necessary for San Diego buildings, strong, sturdy trusses can withstand high levels of wind even without the metal reinforcements. One of the beautiful things about the construction of wood trusses is that flexibility for shear and torsion is built into the design. What this means is that an average truss that is not even reinforced for strength is still strong enough to bend slightly and snap back into place without damaging the roof above it. This permits roofs to be slightly flexible in high winds, avoiding the breakage that would occur with rigid structures.
Additionally, the flexibility of a truss is spread over a large area. This means that the truss can flex in various areas, making it very accommodating to high winds. On the other hand, stick-built rafters can only bear force along a single line. This means that they are very likely to break or snap if enough force from wind occurs. Trusses spread this force over a much larger area, diminishing its damaging power.
For these reasons, many builders prefer to use trusses over rafters, particularly in areas in which homes may experience high or damaging winds. By using truss applications instead of rafters in these locations, homeowners can avoid the problem of roof breakage and save thousands of dollars on possible repairs.
For many years, Stone Truss has been one of the leading Truss Manufacturers in San Diego and surrounding areas. Our professionals can help you design and create the perfect truss applications for your buildings, no matter what weather you may face! Give us a call today to learn about options to make your buildings safer, sturdier and better able to withstand everything Nature has to throw at you. At Stone Truss, we are ready to help you build homes so sturdy and long-lasting that you will be proud to put your name on them!


