2.1.1.

Measuring and Calculating Roofs

When you construct a roof on a new building, you can get these measurements from the plans. On
repair or replacement jobs, you will probably have to take your pencil, clipboard and tape measure,
haul out your ladder, climb onto the roof, and start measuring.
Always make a sketch of the roof layout, including dimensions, roof slopes, location of
penetrations and any unusual circumstances such as rotten deck areas, ventilation problems, or
overhanging tree branches or other obstructions.
Once you have the measurements, you will use them to calculate areas, slopes, angles, and
allowance factors.
i. Roof areas:- There are two ways to calculate roof areas: (1) The positive method and (2) The
negative method
In the positive method, you divide the roof into rectangular areas, and then add the parts to get the
total area.
In the negative method, you extend the rooflines to form a single rectangle. Calculate the area of
this rectangle, and subtract the areas of the rectangular spaces that lies outside the actual roof.

(a) Roof plan of level roof (b) The positive method (c) The positive
method
Figure 2. 1 Methods of roof measurement
Compute roof area shown in figure above. (a) using positive methods and (b) using negative
methods
(a) using positive methods (b) using negative methods
1 12 Part (A) 1 12 Area of extended rectangle
4 12
48 m2 Area of part A 144 m2 extended rectangle Area
1 8 Part (B) Deduct rectangles outside actual area
4 1 8 Part (A)
2
32 m Area of part B 4
1 4 Part (C) 32 m2 Area of part A
4 1 4 Part (B)
2
16 m Area of part C 4
96 m2 Total area of roof 16 m2 Area of part B
96 m2 Total area of roof
ii. Roof Slope and Pitch
You can determine the slope of any roof with the
𝐑𝐢𝐬𝐞
equation: 𝑹𝒐𝒐𝒇 𝑺𝒍𝒐𝒑𝒆 = 𝐑𝐮𝐧

Exercise 2.1:- Calculate roof slope with building

width=12m and rise=1.5m.
1.5 m
𝑅𝑜𝑜𝑓 𝑆𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑒 = = 0.25 𝑜𝑟 1 in 4
6m

Figure 2. 2: Roof rise and run

2.1.1.1.a. Roof Types
Roof trusses shape take the geometry of different roof covering indicated in figure 3.18 as shown
below.

Figure 2.3 Different roof shapes

2.1.1.2.B. Roof trusses and their components

Figure 2. 4 Different roof truss arrangement

Roof truss

Figure 3.19 (a) roof trusses and their components

 Figure 3.19 (b) roof trusses and their components
2.1.1.3.C. Roof truss computation
Roof trusses may be measured in different ways based on the specification stated in bill of
quantities. (1) it can be enumerated by stating type and reference to detail drawing, (2) it can be
measured by length of member without addition for laps on inclined surface or on horizontal
projection based on specification and (3) it can be measured by weight ( in kilogram) for steel roof
truss.
Rough carpentry: roof system
The number of trusses required is calculated in a manner similar to joists: the truss spacing plus
one for the end truss divide the length of the building, but two trusses are deducted, as gable ends
will be substituted for these.
Pitched roof
The number of rafters in a gabled roof should be calculated by taking the total length of the roof
between the centerlines of the end rafters and dividing this length by the rafter spacing. The result
should be rounded to the next whole number, and one added to convert the number of spaces to
the number of rafters. The number of rafters will have to be multiplied by two for the two slopes.
 𝑨
𝑵𝒖𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓 𝒐𝒇 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒔𝒔 = 𝑩 + 𝟏
Spacing of truss ( distance between two consecutive trusses)
Span Spacing
< 15m 3m to 4.5 m
15m -30m 4.5m to 6.0m
>30m 12m to 15m
Note: if spacing is more, cost of purlin increases
Hips and valleys
The length of a hip or valley in a pitched roof
must be calculated from a triangle, there
usually being no true section through it from
which it can be scaled. When the pitch of the
hipped end is the same as that of the main roof,
then the length of the hip may be found from
half the span and the length of the roof slope
using pythagoras.
The height of vertical member for triangular truss can be computed as
From similarity of triangles,
ℎ𝑛 𝑅𝑖𝑠𝑒 𝑹𝒊𝒔𝒆
= , from this 𝒉𝒏 (𝒐𝒓 𝒚𝒏 ) = ∗ (𝑹𝒖𝒏 − 𝑿𝒏 )
(𝑅𝑢𝑛−𝑋𝑛 ) 𝑅𝑢𝑛 𝑹𝒖𝒏

Where ℎ𝑛 is height of vertical truss at

𝑋𝑛 distance from king post to either
side.

The height of vertical member for semicircle doom truss can be computed as
Note: when the truss is semi-circle, the value of “k” is equal to zero. Since, half of chord length
is equal to radius of the circle.
The length of the diagonal struts for triangular common truss and doom truss can be computed as

𝐜 = √(𝐲𝐧𝟐 + 𝐱 𝐧𝟐 ) 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐜 = √(𝐡𝟐𝐧 + 𝐱 𝐧𝟐 ) 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐬
Example 3.15. Prepare quantity take-off for roof truss shown in figure 3.20 assuming that case
one the truss is constructed using eucalyptus while case two the truss is constructed from steel.
1) Supply and erect eucalyptus truss well-seasoned and free from harmful defects. Each truss shall
be fixed with 6mm plain bars to concrete beams and metal straps. Determine the total length of
a) 100-120mm diameter for upper and lower chord members of eucalyptus roof truss.
b) 80-100mm diameter struts (vertical and diagonal members) eucalyptus truss
2) Supply and erect steel roof structure all as shown on the detail drawings. Apply two coats of
antirust paint.
a) Determine the total weight of top and bottom rafter with size 40 x 40 x 2.5mm
b) Determine the total weight of rafter struts with size 30 x 30 x 2.5mm

Figure 3.20 roof truss

Solution:
 Truss length computation
1a). Upper and lower chord members of eucalyptus roof truss with diameter 100-
120mm
𝟐
𝟐
𝑹𝒂𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒈𝒕𝒉 = √(𝐲𝟐𝟎 + 𝑹𝒖𝒏 ) = √(𝟐. 𝟕 + 𝟑. 𝟔𝟐 ) = 𝟒. 𝟓𝒎
𝑻𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒈𝒕𝒉 𝒑𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒔𝒔 = 𝟐 ∗ (𝒓𝒂𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒈𝒕𝒉) + 𝑹𝒐𝒐𝒇 𝒔𝒑𝒂𝒏 = 𝟐 ∗ 𝟒. 𝟓 + 𝟔 ∗ 𝟏. 𝟐 = 𝟏𝟔. 𝟐𝒎
7 16.2 113.4 m Total length of bottom and top members of the truss
1b). Struts (vertical and diagonal) eucalyptus truss truss with diameter 80-100mm
𝑹𝒊𝒔𝒆
𝒉𝒏 (𝒐𝒓 𝒚𝒏 ) = ∗ (𝑹𝒖𝒏 − 𝑿𝒏 )
𝑹𝒖𝒏
𝑹𝒊𝒔𝒆 = 𝒚𝟎 = 𝟐. 𝟕𝒎, 𝑹𝒖𝒏 = 𝟑 ∗ 𝟏. 𝟐𝒎 = 𝟑. 𝟔𝒎
𝟐. 𝟕
𝒚𝟏 = ∗ (𝟑. 𝟔 − 𝟏. 𝟐) = 𝟏. 𝟖𝒎
𝟑. 𝟔
𝟐. 𝟕
𝒚𝟐 = ∗ (𝟑. 𝟔 − 𝟐. 𝟒) = 𝟎. 𝟗𝒎
𝟑. 𝟔
Using Pythagorean Theorem:
𝒙𝟏 = 𝒄/𝒄 𝒔𝒑𝒂𝒄𝒊𝒏𝒈=1.2m

𝑪𝟏 = √(𝐲𝟐𝟏 + 𝐱𝟐𝟎 )= √(𝟏. 𝟖𝟐 + 𝟏. 𝟐𝟐 )=2.16m and 𝑪𝟐 = √(𝐲𝟐𝟐 + 𝐱𝟐𝟎 )= √(𝟎. 𝟗𝟐 + 𝟏. 𝟐𝟐 )=1.5m

Total length of struts per truss,

L=(y1+y2+c1+c2)*2+y0=(1.8+0.9+2.16+1.5)*2+2.7=15.42m
7 15.42 107.94 m Total length of struts
2a. Determine the total weight of top and bottom rafter with size 40 x 40 x 2.5mm
From question (1a) total length of top and bottom truss is 113.4m and weigth per meter for 40
x 40 x 2.5mm RHS is 2.93 Kg/m from table in appendix C. Therefore, total weigth of top and
bottom truss meember is total length time unit weigth of RHS. Weight is equal to 332.26Kg
(=2.93Kg/m*113.4m).
2b. Determine the total weight of rafter struts with size 30 x 30 x 2.5mm
From question (1b) total length of truss strut is 107.94m and weigth per meter for 30 x 30 x
2.5mm RHS is 2.16 Kg/m from table in appendix C. Therefore, total weigth of top and bottom
truss meember is total length time unit weigth of RHS. Weight is equal to 233.15 Kg
(=2.16Kg/m*107.94m).
Exercise 3.-Supply and erect steel roof structure all as shown on the detail drawings. Apply two
coats of antirust paint. Note that Z purlins are equally spaced at 0.79m intervals, 100x100x6 SHS
sections have been used for top chord members, 100x100x2 SHS sections for bottom chord
members and 65x65x3 SHS sections have been used for all web members.
Prepare quantity take-off for steel roof truss shown in figure 3.21 with specification mentioned
below. Assume the truss is to fixed with center to center spacing 2.4m over builging length 12m.
Answer
 Figure 3.3: Sectional diagram of the steel roof truss system

Appendix C

Metric square tube

metric rectangular tube
metric round tube