If you’re interested in installing a long-span roof on your home or other building, you must know that this roof has different forms depending on your preference and the infrastructure.
From the term itself, a long span roof has a minimum of 12 meters in length. It is flexible and can reduce construction costs and time. This type of roof is commonly ideal for large buildings, such as warehouses, store buildings, function halls, arenas, gymnasiums, factories, and more.
So, if you own one of these buildings, you can assume that the best roofing material you can use is a long span.
Materials used in long-span roofing
Before discussing the different roof forms, it is necessary to mention the various materials typically used in this type of roof. This way, you will be more familiar and gain more knowledge, which will become very handy when it’s time to buy a new roof for your building.
The most common materials used in fabricating long-span roofing include alloy, aluminum, timber, steel, and prestressed and reinforced concrete. And among these mentioned materials, the most preferred material is usually steel because it is relatively strong and fire-resistant.
Various roof forms
These are the top long-span roof forms that can be helpful when you decide which form is the most appropriate to use for any building:
Portal Frame
Columns with beams or rafters support portal frames. The joints between the columns and beams are also attached with a bracket to make it rigid.
The most common materials for portal frames include steel, laminated wood, and precast concrete. This form is typically used in large gymnasiums or sports arenas.
Pitched Truss
A truss is a triangular frame with various separations on different centres. A pitched truss is perfect for areas prone to rain or storm because it can easily encourage water runoff. You can also get a good amount of lighting from this form as well as roof volume.
Pitched truss can be made from steel, making it economical and resistant to tensile and compression.
Saw-Tooth Roof
Saw-tooth roofs are perfect if you have an apartment, for example. It looks like the pattern from the teeth of a saw, hence the name. If you have a series of continuous buildings, you can install this type of long-span roofing; it can save you money and space than installing individual roofing in each compartment.
Saw-tooth roofs are sometimes used in some manufacturing and industrial infrastructures because they are easily installed with solar panels, making them economical and environmentally friendly.
Trussed Rafter
Trussed rafters are also perfect if you have a generally long building. They can extend up to 14 to 15 meters in length. They are commonly made from steel and wood. The pitches in a trussed rafter are deep to avoid water build-up.
Space Deck and Space Frame
A space deck has a simple architectural design and is made with diagonal tubes. It can extend up to 22 to 33 meters long. The space desk is easy to install, and its parts are lightweight, making it transportation-friendly.
On the other hand, a space frame is somehow similar to a spacious deck, but it has a more detailed design, and its installation is a bit more complex. Space frames are very durable and can withstand any stress.
There are many forms of long-span roofing, and each state is unique and has a corresponding application. The best long span types are the portal frame, pitched truss, saw-tooth roof, trussed rafter, spacious deck, and space frame.