Queen post truss

Two posts split the span, opening up a wider, taller room.

Split the king post in two and you get a queen post truss — two posts standing off-center, opening up the middle for a loft, a stair, or just air.

How it works

queen posts  two, spaced in from the walls
straining beam  ties the two posts at the top
tie beam     carries the whole truss across the room
span         wider + taller than a king post

When to use it

Wide spans with an attic above. The two posts frame a useful central bay, so you can hang a loft floor off them instead of building a wall.