Guide
How it works
Everything we make is priced the same way: by the pounds of steel and the inches of weld it takes. Whether you pick a stock design, build your own in one of our online configurators, or send us a drawing, you pay for steel and welding, never for the design. Customization is free.
01 Ordering
Three ways to order
1. Choose a stock design
Our plate collections and standard brackets are ready to order at listed prices. Pick a truss style and a collection, and add the plates to your cart. The truss guide below shows exactly which plates each truss needs.
- Truss plate collections: six styles, for timbers from 3" to 12"
- Heavy-duty angle brackets: stock sizes in 1/4" steel
2. Design it online
Where your project needs something made to measure, our configurators let you enter your dimensions, see the part in 3D, get the price instantly and order, with no waiting for a quote.
- Tie rod systems: awnings and canopies, wall-to-wall spans, and vaulted ceilings from 2 to 5 points
- Column caps and bases: caps, corner caps, cross caps and bases sized to your posts
- Joist hangers: internal and external flange hangers for heavy timber
- Custom angle brackets: set the height, length, width, fastener size and corner style, in 1/4" A36 steel
- 17-15/16"18"w4-1212.dxf
9 holes 11/16" DIA3. Ask us for a custom design
If a stock design or configurator doesn't give you what you need, call us or send a sketch. We'll design the part with you, at no charge for the design. You pay for the steel and welding, on the same basis as everything on the site. Changing a hole pattern, a width or a spoke is often a quick answer on the phone.
02 Trade
For builders, architects and designers
We fabricate from plans. Send us your drawings, details or a cut list, and we'll price them the way we price everything else: pounds of steel and inches of weld. That leaves you free to design whatever the project calls for, without worrying that a custom connector will cost more than a catalog one.
- Plans and drawings: send them through our quote form.
- Large orders: we regularly supply whole projects; see how we delivered 14,000 lbs of connectors for one amenity center. Orders over 500 lbs can often ship for less on a custom freight quote.
- Engineering: we build to your specifications; structural design and approval stay with the project's engineer.
03 Trusses
Plan your truss
Planning a truss takes three choices: the style of truss, the collection that fits your timbers, and your roof pitch.
Step 1: Choose your truss
Plate shapes are named by letter, and each works the same way in every collection. Plates are sold singly and used in pairs, one on each face of the timber, so the counts below are for one truss, both faces.
King post truss with struts
The traditional complete truss. 2 W, 2 F, 4 Y, 4 VB.
King post truss
A king post without struts. 2 W, 2 T, 4 VB.
Truss with struts, no king post
A more modern shape, open in the middle. 2 N, 2 U, 4 Y, 4 VB.
Open truss
Rafters and a bottom beam only, for an open, airy look. 2 N, 4 VB.
Tie beam
No truss at all: frame the roof first, then raise a beam that hangs between the rafters, like a collar tie. 2 N, 4 VT.
Prefer slim steel to a timber beam? Architectural tie rods do the same job, and you can design a tie rod system online.
Every plate shape
-
W W4-1212
17-15/16" x 18", 9 holespeak, with a king post -
N N4-1212
18-5/8" x 12-1/8", 6 holespeak, without a king post -
Y Y4-1212
16-7/16" x 16-7/16", 7 holesstrut to rafter -
F F4
32" x 18", 12 holesfan plate, tie beam to king post and two struts -
T T4
16" x 16", 8 holestie beam to king post -
U U4
32" x 14-5/8", 10 holestie beam to two struts -
VB VB4-1212
19" x 15-3/16", 8 holesheel, rafter sitting on the tie beam -
VT VT4-1212
19" x 15-3/16", 8 holesheel, tie beam hanging from the rafters -
L L4
10" x 16", 6 holestie beam to column -
I I4
18" x 4", 4 holesstraight strap, or joining timbers end to end
12" at this scale. Drawn from the Taiga collection's cutting files.
Step 2: Choose your collection
Pick the collection that fits your timber width. Each collection names its plates by shape letter plus its own code, so the peak plate is W3 in Cornice and W6 in Massif. The complete king post truss in Massif is 2 W6, 2 F6, 4 Y6 and 4 VB6.
- Cornice, for 3" to 6" timbers: plates W3, F3, Y3, VB3…
- Taiga, for 4" to 8" timbers: plates W4, F4, Y4, VB4…
- Cuesta, for 4" to 8" timbers: plates WC4, FC4, YC4, VBC4…
- Massif, for 6" to 10" timbers: plates W6, F6, Y6, VB6…
- Esker, for 6" to 10" timbers: plates WE6, FE6, YE6, VBE6…
- Sierra, for 8" to 12" timbers: plates W8, F8, Y8, VB8…
Leave a little wood showing around each plate, and measure your timbers: a store-bought 4x4 is really 3 1/2" square, while rough-sawn timber is usually full size. The FAQs explain more.
-
Cornice W3-1212
17-5/8" x 14-3/4", 8 holesfor 3" to 6" timbers -
Taiga W4-1212
17-15/16" x 18", 9 holesfor 4" to 8" timbers
-
Cuesta WC4-1212
17-7/16" x 17-1/8", 9 holesfor 4" to 8" timbers -
Massif W6-1212
19-13/16" x 17-9/16", 8 holesfor 6" to 10" timbers -
Esker WE6-1212
19-13/16" x 19-9/16", 12 holesfor 6" to 10" timbers -
Sierra W8-1212
37-11/16" x 26-1/2", 16 holesfor 8" to 12" timbers
12" at this scale. The W peak plate of each collection at 12/12, from its cutting file.
Step 3: Choose your pitch and thickness
- Pitch: plates that meet the rafters (W, N, Y, VB, VT) are cut for your roof pitch. Choose it on each plate; most pitches from 3/12 to 12/12 are in stock, and we can add others quickly.
- Thickness: 3/16" for purely decorative plates, 1/4" where the plates carry load. Structural suitability is the customer's responsibility; have a qualified engineer confirm your design.
- Hardware: holes are 11/16" for 5/8" bolts. Threaded rod with washers and nuts looks the same on both faces; bolts leave a head on one side. On purely decorative work, you can lag-screw single plates instead of bolting pairs through.
04 Orders
Common questions
More answers are in our FAQs.
Do you do custom orders?
Yes! We love designing the perfect item for our customers' unique needs. We don't charge for design; you pay only for the steel and welding. Use our quote form for a customized quote. Please be sure to include:
- Your name
- Phone number
- Any designs or drawings you have
- Steel thickness
- Whether you would like powder coating
- The shipping address
We can take it from there.
Which collection should I use?
In general, the timber width determines the collection you choose. We usually recommend leaving a wood "reveal" around the plates rather than having the plates go right to the edge of the wood. Also, please be aware that “dimensional lumber” is specified in nominal dimensions. For example, a 4 x 4 dimensional lumber post like you would buy at a big box store is actually 3 ½” x 3 ½”, so our 4” wide Taiga plates would actually extend past the edge of the lumber. Rough-sawn lumber is typically specified in actual dimensions, so a rough-sawn 8x8 will be roughly 8" by 8".
If in doubt, call us, and we will work with you to select the best choice for your application.
What steel thickness should I choose?
Purely decorative plates can be 3/16". Plates that are expected to provide structural support should usually be 1/4". Note: Customer takes all responsibility for structural suitability of timber connector plates. A qualified engineer should always be consulted to ensure structural integrity.
Need another thickness? Please contact us for additional options.
What size are the bolt holes?
The standard hole size of our plates is 11/16” unless otherwise noted. These holes are designed for 5/8" bolts. Our awning and face-mounted brackets default to 1/4" fasteners. If you would like to use a fastener of a different diameter, please contact us. We can usually make that change for free, and our online configurators let you choose the hole size for your fastener.
What grade of steel do you use?
We use industry-standard A36 plate and 1018 cold-rolled rod. Tie rod assemblies, brackets included, are also available in 316 stainless steel by quote. If you need a custom grade of steel, please call for a quote.
What finishing options are available?
- Unfinished (included) - Mild steel rusts, so expect some superficial rust on your plates. In most cases, you can ignore it and apply your finish right over it, but if you really want, take some steel wool or sandpaper to it and wipe it off.
- Powder coat (additional cost) - Our matte black powder coat is gorgeous and one of the most durable finishes on the market. This is the preferred option for outdoor applications because of its UV stability. Matte black powder coating can be selected at checkout. Contact us if you need a different color.
- Galvanized - For outdoor installations in very wet environments or in environments close to the ocean, galvanizing is the best choice for rust resistance. Please contact us for a quote if you need your parts galvanized.
In addition, there are other finish options you can do yourself. Please see our How it Works page for more information.
Do you offer galvanizing?
Yes! We do offer galvanizing. Please give us a call, and we can give you a quote. Please note that galvanizing adds substantially to lead times. Please plan accordingly.
How do I add powder coating to an order?
The powder coating option will appear above your cart during the checkout process.
Click the checkbox, and the cost will be added to your cart. It might take a second or two to refresh the screen. To remove powder coating, uncheck the box.
05 Questions
Questions?
Call us, request a quote, or see the FAQs for finishes, shipping and lead times. We like helping people get their projects right.