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Tips & Techniques

Simple, Site-Made Trusses

Cutting angles in common 2x12s makes framing a small, low-pitch roof less complicated.

By Aaron Miiller Issue 332 - July 2025
Click here to enlarge. Drawing by Martha Garstang Hill.

We were recently hired to build a small structure for an electric cooperative. The site was located right underneath some low-hung power lines, so the building had to be relatively short. To keep the pitch low and the process simple, we built our own “trusses” by cutting angles in common 2x12s.

To make sure we left enough meat at each end of the board, we only cut a section off the ends and then used the angled cutoffs to add to the height of the trusses. This process eliminated more complicated roof-framing techniques, and it was fast and budget friendly.

— Aaron Miiller; Pollard, Ark. Edited by Mark Petersen.

From Fine Homebuilding #332

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  1. ct_yankee | Jun 05, 2025 06:05pm | #1

    Kind of a misappropriation of the word "truss."
    More like a double-pitched built-up roof joist.
    Great idea though if the span + joist depth will get you the pitch you need.

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