Styles & Trusses

(continued from previous)...The Ridge Frame is the next type of roof framing system that Mill Creek most commonly uses in our projects. In this system, the rafters will extend from the plates to a horizontal ridge beam at the peak of the roof. Typically, this type of frame is used once the width of the building precludes using a collar tie system. However, the flexibility of Mill Creek's system allows us to use both a collar tie system and a ridge beam system in the same frame. In a vaulted ceiling area, such as a great room, collar tie trusses could be used while a ridge beam system could be used where there is a second floor loft area. Again, the flexibility of the Mill Creek timber framing system allows us to help design pleasing spaces within your design. 

As frames get wider, Mill Creek uses what we refer to as a Purlin timber frame system.  Unlike purlins used in a traditional Bent frame system, our purlins are large horizontal timbers that run the length of a building supporting the rafters near their mid span. In this system, the rafters are broken into two separate pieces, the bottom rafters run from plate to purlin, and the top rafters form a small collar tie truss between the two purlins. The top rafter sets may or may not contain a collar tie, and can even include king posts, if desired.

A Mill Creek timber frame home may contain different variations of these basic systems depending on the size and layout of the design. With our system, we can be flexible in how we solve your framing needs, so the overall design meets your spatial and aesthetic needs. This flexibility allows our timber frames to enhance your design, not dictate the design.