Truss Terms: The terms below are typically used to describe the various parts of a metal plate connected wood truss. the truss profile, span, heel height, overall height, overhang and web configuration depend on the specific design conditions and will vary by application.


Two basic types of trusses: The pitched or common truss is characterized by its triangular shape. It is most often used for construction. Some common trusses are names according to their web configuration, such as the King Post, Fan or Howe truss. The chord size and web configuration are determined by span, load, and spacing. All truss designs are optimized to provide the most economical application.

The parallel chord or flat truss gets its name from having parallel top an bottom chords. This is type often used for floor construction.

Standard Roof Truss Configurations

Parallel Chord


Truss Configurations: The following examples represent some of the possible variations on the basic types of trusses. The only limit to the design is your imagination.