homebuildy.com Truss plates and face-mount hangers serve distinct roles in wood construction, where truss plates provide strong, flat steel connectors embedded into wood joints for maximum load distribution and stability. Face-mount hangers attach externally to beams or joists, offering easy installation and adjustable support but with less load capacity compared to embedded truss plates. Choosing between truss plates and face-mount hangers depends on structural requirements, installation preferences, and load demands in framing projects.
Table of Comparison
| Feature | Truss Plate | Face-Mount Hanger |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Connects wooden truss members, providing structural support | Supports joists by attaching directly to framing members |
| Material | Galvanized steel with stamped teeth | Galvanized steel, often with screw or nail holes |
| Installation | Pressed into wood surfaces, securing multiple members | Screwed or nailed onto wood surfaces, typically one member |
| Load Capacity | High load distribution for complex truss structures | Moderate load capacity for joist-to-beam support |
| Application | Used in prefabricated roof trusses and engineered wood framing | Common in floor joist and rafter framing connections |
| Visibility | Typically hidden within the wood assembly | Visible on the face of the framing member |
Introduction to Truss Plates and Face-Mount Hangers
Truss plates are metal connectors used to join timber components in roof trusses, providing high strength and efficient load transfer through their toothed design that embeds into the wood. Face-mount hangers, on the other hand, are metal brackets attached to the face of a timber member to support joists or beams, commonly used in floor and deck framing for easy installation and visible connection points. Both components are essential in structural wood framing but differ in application, with truss plates primarily reinforcing truss joints and face-mount hangers serving as support brackets for horizontal members.
Structural Function: Truss Plates vs. Face-Mount Hangers
Truss plates provide continuous load transfer across wood members by embedding metal teeth directly into the wood, ensuring a strong, integrated joint that resists shear and tension forces. Face-mount hangers rely on fasteners to connect wood members, offering easy installation and load-bearing capacity primarily in vertical direction but potentially less resistance to lateral movement. The structural function of truss plates excels in distributing stresses within engineered wood trusses, while face-mount hangers serve as connectors supporting beam-to-post or joist-to-beam applications with more flexibility but less integrative strength.
Material Composition and Manufacturing Differences
Truss plates are typically made from galvanized steel with serrated teeth designed for penetrating wood, whereas face-mount hangers use thicker steel plates with smooth surfaces for load-bearing connections. The manufacturing of truss plates involves stamping and punching processes to create sharp teeth, enhancing grip within wooden joints, while face-mount hangers are fabricated using precision-cut steel pieces welded or riveted into shape to provide structural support. These differences in material composition and fabrication techniques result in truss plates being optimized for embedding within wood, whereas face-mount hangers serve as external connectors supporting framing elements.
Load Transfer and Connection Strength Comparison
Truss plates provide superior load transfer capabilities by distributing forces evenly across the connected timber members, resulting in enhanced structural integrity compared to face-mount hangers, which concentrate loads at specific points. The steel plate's embedded teeth grip the wood fibers firmly, offering higher resistance to shear and withdrawal forces, whereas face-mount hangers rely on fasteners that may loosen over time under dynamic loads. Consequently, truss plates deliver greater connection strength and durability in applications involving heavy shear and tension stresses, making them preferred for complex truss assemblies.
Installation Methods: Truss Plate vs. Face-Mount Hanger
Truss plates are installed by pressing them into wood members using hydraulic or mechanical presses, ensuring a secure metal-to-wood connection without the need for additional fasteners. Face-mount hangers require precise nailing or screwing to the face of the lumber, providing a visible metal bracket that supports load transfer. The truss plate's embedment method offers faster installation and a flush profile, while face-mount hangers allow easier inspection and adjustment during framing.
Suitable Applications for Truss Plates and Face-Mount Hangers
Truss plates are ideal for connecting wooden truss members in roof and floor systems, providing strong, reliable joints especially suited for prefabricated trusses and heavy load applications. Face-mount hangers excel in supporting joists and beams by attaching to the face of a structural member, making them suitable for retrofit projects and situations requiring easy installation with visible hardware. Choosing between truss plates and face-mount hangers depends on structural requirements, load distribution, and installation constraints in residential and commercial construction.
Code Compliance and Industry Standards
Truss plates meet stringent building codes such as the ICC-ES Evaluation Reports and comply with ANSI standards for engineered wood connectors, ensuring reliable load transfer in roof and floor systems. Face-mount hangers, while also code-compliant, are typically specified where visible connection hardware is acceptable and must meet ASTM standards for metal connectors. Both components adhere to International Building Code (IBC) requirements but serve distinct structural roles dictated by architectural and engineering design criteria.
Cost and Availability Analysis
Truss plates generally offer a more cost-effective and widely available solution compared to face-mount hangers, primarily due to their simpler manufacturing process and common usage in timber framing projects. Availability of truss plates is extensive in both local hardware stores and large-scale suppliers, ensuring quick procurement and reduced lead times. Face-mount hangers tend to be pricier and less stocked, especially in specialized sizes, impacting project budgets and timelines.
Durability and Long-Term Performance
Truss plates, made from galvanized steel with serrated teeth, provide superior durability and corrosion resistance compared to face-mount hangers, ensuring stable structural connections over time. Their embedded design distributes load evenly across wood members, reducing stress points and minimizing the risk of joint failure in long-term applications. Face-mount hangers, while easier to install, typically expose fasteners to environmental factors, potentially compromising their long-term performance under heavy or dynamic loads.
Pros and Cons: Truss Plate vs. Face-Mount Hanger
Truss plates offer high load capacity and efficient load distribution by embedding directly into wood members, making them ideal for heavy structural connections, but they require precise installation and can be less accessible for inspections. Face-mount hangers simplify installation with visible attachment points and allow easy inspections or replacements, though they might provide lower load capacity and can cause localized stress concentrations on the wood. Choosing between truss plates and face-mount hangers depends on factors like load requirements, installation preferences, inspection needs, and overall structural design.
Truss plate vs Face-mount hanger Infographic
