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Roof trusses

Scissor truss

A scissor truss has a sloping bottom chord, so the ceiling underneath can follow the roof and form a vaulted room.

Also known as scissor truss, scissors truss, vaulted truss, half scissor, scissor mono

The two bottom chords rise from the heels towards the middle, like an open pair of scissors, and are usually pitched at about half the roof slope. The result is a cathedral or vaulted ceiling without a separate structural beam.

Because the tie is no longer straight, the truss spreads outwards more under load, which the design has to control. A half scissor (scissor mono) does the same on a single slope.

Related terms
Cathedral trussA cathedral truss creates a high, vaulted ceiling, with the bottom chord following the roof slope for all or part of its length. Coffered trussA coffered (tray) truss has a bottom chord that slopes up at the sides and runs flat in the middle, creating a raised tray ceiling. Cambered trussA cambered truss has a bottom chord that is slightly raised in the middle, giving a little extra ceiling height and a gently sloped ceiling. Bottom chordThe bottom chord is the lower member of a truss that ties the two ends together and usually carries the ceiling.
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