Version 1.3.1 - 02.15.2016
- Added Triple Fink and Quad Fink common truss types.
- Structural outlookers (vert. & horz.) enabled under advanced roof options for Common (Triple & Quad Fink) truss types.


Triple Fink @ 70' w/ 2x6 chords
Quad Fink @ 80' w/ 2x6 chords

View model here:

https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/model.html?id=u2b57ed6d-9f1f-47c4-9e09-5489940c94b2

Alternatively one could balloon frame the wall at the gable ends and attach a ledger for the ceiling:





View model here:


https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/model.html?id=ub1aa30d4-a7c3-4320-8bc4-03fd128b5913


In my opinion a partially sloping wall gets complicated to frame.  From an engineering standpoint the balloon framed wall is also the strongest option.

I am currently investigating the best method to construct the gable end wall and truss with a tail bearing truss.  Show below are 3 different possible configurations:


1.) Structural Outlookers (Vertical)


2.) Non-Structural Outlookers (Horizontal)


3.) Structural Outlookers (Horizontal)

This is just one possible method of framing the gable end wall into the gable truss with a 2x4 outlooker.  Option 3 shown above is somewhat of a question, not sure how that heel joint would come together.

View the model here to analyze the different configurations:

https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/model.html?id=u75c42456-c8e5-4002-bc93-779860f8dc61

Version 1.3.0 - 02.14.2016
- Added tail bearing truss type, configurations: (Fink).
- Metric input enabled for tail bearing truss type.
- Advanced options enabled for tail bearing truss type.



View model here:

https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/model.html?id=u704b9d92-bd38-4895-b71b-19691f31cca7

I have shown 3 configurations of the same roof to display the differences with non-structural vs. structural outlookers (horz. & vert.).  I am not exactly sure how to treat the gable end truss for this truss type since I have never dealt with this type of truss before.  Any sample outputs showing the gable end truss with a dropped top chord for a tail bearing truss would be very helpful.

Version 1.2.9 - 02.12.2015
- Added Shed Rafter Roof (all advanced options enabled).
- Added ceiling joist option for Shed Rafter Roofs.
- Initial menu now defaults to last picked option of session for that sub-menu item.

A typical application might be a clerestory roof with a upper shed roof and lower shed roof with a ledger board:



View model here:

https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/model.html?id=u0b2dd5bc-605d-467c-a6bb-449bb54e76e6

Started the manual as a MS Word document however that did't work so well for hyperlinks.  Starting over with an html manual page:


http://design.medeek.com/support/trusspluginmanual/mainpage.html


Couple of pages up, only about 25 more to go...

I added the  porch roof using the hip roof and shed roof primitives.  I'm wondering if it might not be worthwhile to add in a feature to create this type of combination roof automatically.  Shed Roof w/ ledger & hip ends.



View updated model here:

https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/model.html?id=uf979b67e-2755-4981-9bfc-06d20b64d313

Note, how close the ledger is to the rim joist.  The porch roof diaphragm will actually stiffen up the region of the wall where the stairway is to some extent, in general the use of a "wind beam" is probably advisable if platform framing is used and a quick check of the numbers should be done.

Testing the real world application of the Medeek Truss Plugin.  This model combines a double fink truss, raised heel fink truss, monopitch truss and shed roof with ledger.  While creating the shed roof special attention to the birdsmouth cut was required to ensure that the fascia height of the rafters and trusses lined up.  Also note the use of the raised heel type truss on the upper roof portion.  Structural outlookers were specified for all gable overhangs. 

5:12 pitch roofs with rafters and trusses 24" o/c.  I did not apply a level cut to the rafter overhangs but that would probably be a given.  Span of the double fink is 48 feet with 2x6 top and bottom chords.





View models here:

https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/model.html?id=u98040448-af54-4d79-af30-a3aefca9b941

https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/model.html?id=ud8f4c186-1836-4d16-928a-2ba8c10c99a9

If anyone has some real world applications using the plugin that they are willing to share I would be very interested to see how it is being used and it would also give me some direction for further development and improvements.

More "Fun with Roofs".

This roof was generated by first creating a hip roof primitive then deleting all but 3 components which were then copied and rotated into place for the lower roof hip corner.  The shed roof /w ledger component was created with one primitive and then copied and rotated into place.  Overall a fairly painless process now that I am somewhat familiar with navigating my way around SketchUp.  The fascia required a couple of trims.

The pyramid at the top required no manual intervention. Approximately 10-15 minutes of work for a fairly substantial roof.



View model here:

https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/model.html?id=ue55bf7ab-c669-4cd7-8f05-305dee4e2519

Version 1.2.8 - 02.02.2015
- Added Shed Rafter Roof with Ledger (all advanced options enabled).
- Added ceiling joist option for Shed Rafter Roofs.
- New submenu item and toolbar icon added for secondary (minor) roofs.



View model here:

https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/model.html?id=u972818f0-96f0-4f85-9781-087a2db95199

I used this option to create a monitor style roof line but it can also be used for porch roofs, carports etc...  I still need to add a standard shed roof with and upper and lower birdsmouth cut.

Dutch Gable Rev. 3:

Doubled up gable common rafters with the dutch ridge/ledger is sandwiched between them. Found a paper by Larry Haun, Mar. 1995 "Framing a Dutch Roof" that was published in Fine Homebuilding magazine, that describes a very similar method of framing.



View model here:

https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/model.html?id=ude19cd3c-e059-42e0-8e7d-2b0b6b0852a8

Disregard the common rafter sizes they are undersized but look at the method of sandwiching the dutch ridge/ledger between the last common rafters. I would probably also install some blocking between the double gable common rafters. I'm also not showing all of the ceiling joists and bird blocking etc...

If the roof gets large enough then one could go to a double ply dutch ridge, or even a deeper LVL member, assuming there is no internal support available from internal walls.

Dutch Gable Rev. 2:


https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/model.html?id=u32c4c79d-603a-4363-99db-df726b281151


Same as previous except for doubled up common rafters at dutch gable.

This is my first crack at a dutch gable roof framed with rafters:





Without the sheathing:





Please examine the model here:


https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/model.html?id=u060d4827-fbb5-400e-8270-0b244d958750

The intersection of the supporting valley rafter, valley rafter and lower ridge I had framed incorrectly.  The corrected method is shown below:



Also note that the segment of the supporting valley rafter between the upper ridge and lower ridge would need to be beveled or "backed" otherwise it clashes with the sheathing.  I noticed this when I originally added the supporting valley rafter but confirmed my suspicion when perusing DeWalt's carpentry and framing handbook this morning.  I probably should have pulled this book out before beginning this study but it only confirmed everything I had managed to discover myself once I started examining the model.