Raised Tie vs Scissor Truss—Which Should You Choose?

If you're looking to incorporate a bit of charm and character into your new home, opting for a vaulted ceiling will go a long way. Whether you have an old farmhouse that requires a new roof, a modern home that's being treated to an extension or you're building totally from scratch, raised tie trusses and scissor trusses will introduce interest to an otherwise bland space. 

Scissor Trusses

The Good: Scissor trusses create a vaulted ceiling that takes inspiration from cathedrals and grand, high ceilinged manor houses. From a practical standpoint, they add vast amounts of headroom, and from an aesthetics point of view, they make a room feel airy, light and inviting. All of this doesn't even come with a cost penalty, as they often work out about the same price as standard trusses. 

The Bad: Of course, their vaulted design means you can wave goodbye to your loft space. Maybe build a nice big cupboard for the cr*p you'd usually store up there.

wooden scissor trusses stacked against a wall

Feel free to send us your drawings and we'll be happy to provide quotes for both options. Email: enquiries@tailormadedesigns.co.uk

Raised Tie Trusses

The Good: Raised Tie trusses aren't quite as dramatic as scissor trusses, which is great if you own an older or more subdued property that would benefit from additional headroom without the 'wow' factor. They also can allow for a degree of storage space in the loft above, depending on how high you want the lower chord. We often supply raised tie trusses for extensions where the total height of the building needs to be lower than what would be ideal, but the customer would still like that open and airy feel. 

The Bad: Raised Tie trusses often cost more than scissor trusses due to their increased timber sizes. This being said, it's very dependant on the job, and we'll always try to recommend the most cost-effective solution for your project.

raised tie trusses leant up against a building

Which Should You Pick?

For a cost-effective and dramatic ceiling: Scissor
For a slightly more subdued look with some storage: Raised Tie

Get in contact here for a FREE quote!

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1 comment

Designing a golf simulator room under permitted development rules, I’m okay with boundaries etc, but need to stay under the 2.5 meter eves and 4 meter ridge for a dual pitched roof, vaulted ceiling. My planned room space internally will be less than 30 square meters. Outside dimension would be 4 meters by 7 meters. eves E 2.4 and ridge at 3.9, using C24 stud walls, using 3 150 × 150 oak posts along each 7 meter wall and 3 150 × 150 oak posts along each 4 meter wall. I need a minimum of 2,8 meters of height for golf swing. I was considering a Glulam Ridge beam but would a scissor truss or raised tie truss accommodate this without a ridge beam?

Graham Bourne

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