Recommended test
Generate the same footprint with two roof systems and compare space, supports and downstream tool compatibility.
- Create a gable roof at a moderate angle with collar-tie framing and a short overhang.
- Inspect the ridge, rafters and tie members from Front and Iso views.
- Save the project, switch to Beam or select a saved Truss definition, then review and build.
- Switch from Gable to Skillion and back, confirming the previous gable structure is restored.
- Compare interior clearance and confirm whether your intended dormer or opening workflow supports the chosen system.
Gable or skillion
Gable roofs expose the broadest Autostrek toolset. Skillion creates a single roof slope and currently does not support Dormer Framer. Choose the roof type before investing in dependent detail.
Select Gable, Skillion or Hip in the roof bar above the preview. Switching away from Gable and back restores its previous structure choice, saved truss and fitting mode. Skillion can use its standard Truss or Rafters option; that choice does not replace the remembered gable setup.
New designs and Default building start with Vented roof, including OSB sheathing, simplified covering, counter battens, tile battens, trim and drainage where supported. Sheathing only removes the covering and batten layers; Framing only also removes sheathing, trim, drainage and soffits. Open the roof’s Advanced settings to customize these layers. Saved designs keep their saved settings.
Single-slope framing
For Skillion, choose Truss for the standard chord-and-post family or Rafters for single-slope rafter framing. Switching roof type into Skillion starts with the standard truss choice; loaded starters and saved designs retain their configured structure.
The current Sauna starter uses Rafters at 8°. Check the rafter dimensions, wall geometry and roof layers after changing the system. Saved gable truss definitions are not used for these skillion choices.
The automatic assembly guide has narrower support: its single-slope adapter handles the standard chord-and-post family, not the new rafter Sauna.
Hip roof V1
The Hip roof option creates four equal-pitch slopes with level eaves. A rectangular footprint has a ridge along its longer side; a square footprint has a central apex. It uses common and jack rafters, four diagonal hip rafters and a ridge board where a ridge exists. Set rafter width, depth and building spacing in Build. This system has its own framing choices and does not use saved trusses, collar-tie or ridge-beam presets.
Hip roof V1 was released on 13 September 2026. See the Hip roof guide for supported dimensions, generation steps, roof layers and live adjustments.
Gable framing options
The Roof Structure menu offers Beam, Collar Tie and Truss. Beam uses a ridge beam and rafters; Collar Tie uses rafters and ties. Truss requires a saved Truss Builder definition or one of the supplied Example truss definitions.
Hover over Truss to open the saved-truss submenu, or click/tap it, then choose a definition. Hovering alone does not change the roof. Build custom truss opens Truss Builder while preserving the building design. If none is selected, No truss selected appears in red. Generate building still opens the review, which links to the missing choice; Build now becomes available when the problems are resolved.
Angle and overhang
The current generator accepts roof angles up to 65 degrees and overhangs up to 600 mm. Steep values trigger warnings because they create demanding geometry and real construction implications. Always inspect eaves, ridge height and member intersections after a large change.
A saved gable truss supplies its own pitch, overhang and member sizes. When the building matches the saved span, width is locked by default. Use Unlock below the viewport width label to change it, or Lock to span to restore the saved width. A-frame definitions support Keep width and auto-adjust. Older designs with a different width retain that width rather than being silently resized. See the visual builder guide for the fitting controls.
Compatibility comes first
Saved trusses are for gable roofs; skillion uses its separate standard Truss or Rafters choices. Dormer roof openings support conventional rafters and the scoped A-frame path described in gable extensions and A-frame dormer floors. Other truss configurations retain their existing limits. Autostrek does not size structural members: verify spans, loads, bracing and connections independently.
Hip roof V1 requires a positive pitch and a uniform overhang on all four sides. Dormers and Hip-specific assembly-guide generation are outside its scope.