What is a bent?
A bent (Dutch: gebint) is a load-bearing timber frame that together with other bents forms a repeatable structural unit in a roof or hall construction. The bent consists of two inclined rafters connected by a horizontal tie beam. Multiple bents placed side by side form the skeleton of a roof or hall.
Components of a bent
A classic bent consists of:
- Posts — the vertical corner uprights
- Rafters — the inclined members that form the roof base
- Tie beam — the horizontal beam that holds the rafters together and prevents spreading
- Ridge point — where the two rafters meet at the top
- Braces — diagonal stiffeners for additional stability
Types of bents
| Type | Description | Application |
|---|---|---|
| Ridge bent | Rafters run all the way to the ridge | Classic barns, farmhouses |
| Common rafter roof | Without tie beam, rafters sit directly on the wall plate | Light roof constructions |
| Hammer-beam bent | With a short horizontal hammer beam at mid-height | Large spans, historic buildings |
| Lattice bent | Steel or timber lattice truss | Industrial halls, large spans |
Why use bents?
- Span — A bent can span large spaces without intermediate supports
- Repeatable — Bents are placed in series at a fixed centre-to-centre spacing (the “bay”)
- Self-supporting — The triangular system (rafters + tie beam) is structurally stable
Spacing between bents
The distance between bents is called the bay width or bent spacing:
- Light structures (shed, storage): 1.2 – 2.4 metres
- Heavy structures (farmhouse, hall): 3 – 6 metres
Building your own bent
When building your own garden house or shed, prefabricated timber bents are available ready-made. This saves a lot of sawing and comes sized to each roof pitch.
Prefabricated bent costs (indication):
- Small bent (garden house, 3 m wide): €80 – €200 per piece
- Large bent (garage/shed, 6 m wide): €300 – €600 per piece
Related terms
- Roof truss
- Purlins
- Ridge purlin
- Roof structure
- Sub-frame
- Timber frame construction