Cross Hipped Roof

[mocon11]

Is it possible to design a cross hipped roof, without a post beneath the ridge and without using trusses? Collar ties work well at a portion of the roof, but I'm not sure how to make this connection at the valley where the two hips intersect.

 

[hokie66]

Yes, it is possible. Stick building carpenters know how, if you can find any. The valley has to be supported, and it is usually done by propping up from a beam in the ceiling.

 

[msquared48]

I use balloons.

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering

 

[BAretired]

You are talking about an 'L' shaped building, I assume like the sketch attached. Posts are not required, but you must tie the bottom of the valley beam to the bottom of the opposite hip beam by means of a tension member. That makes it a tied arch which is a simple truss. Because of the length of the tie, you would likely need to support it intermittently from the upper members.

It is a very simple structure but it requires good connections at the ends of the tension tie.

BA