Roof Truss Ridge Beam

The difference between them is that a ridge beam is a structural member that bears half of the live and dead loads of the rafters on either side of it but a ridge board is not structural.

Roof truss ridge beam.

Two king post trusses linked to support a roof. It is often used to prevent separation of the rafters during high winds but can also be used simply to frame the ceiling. This is an example of a double roof with principal rafters and common rafters. A timber roof truss is a structural framework of timbers designed to bridge the space above a room and to provide support for a roof.

A structural ridge beam is a horizontal beam placed at the peak or ridge of a roof and is designed to carry much of the live and dead loads or weight of the roof structure by itself. So called because it is the horizontal beam that supports the ends of the rafters at the ridge. A ridge board is a non structural member that serves as a prop for opposing rafters to rest against and connect to. Known as the leading manufacturer of metal plated wood roof floor trusses in the east rigidply trusses are manufactured for residential commercial post frame and many other applications.

Our roots are in the manufacturing of glu laminated wood timbers offering glu laminated posts beams arches timber trusses bridges and pavilions. Ridge beam sizing is based on the span of the beam between supports and the amount of roof load supported by the beam. The loads on the ridge beam are carried by vertical posts at the beam ends down through the building structural walls to the building foundation.