Roof Trusses Vs Roof Rafters

There are significant cost differences when considering a truss style roof vs.

Roof trusses vs roof rafters.

Rafters and trusses have long been employed in making roofs of houses. Because of the professional expertise and time required for rafter construction roofs built using rafters can cost as much as 50 more than roofs built using trusses. Why roof trusses are more popular than rafters. Rafters cost more than trusses as their installation process is labor intensive.

Trusses are composed of multiple beams for added support. It is certainly true that trusses are more commonly used than rafters. Trusses on the other hand are pre engineered with internal webbing to support the span of the roof. Both trusses and rafters are triangular shaped planks with the trusses containing more webs inside the main frame.

This design allows for a single rafter to span from the ridge to the exterior wall which creates the maximum amount of attic space. Roof trusses have smaller wood members that are engineered to provide a similar strength without all the expensive wood. Roof framing has undergone a quiet revolution over the past half century. A truss roof system does not use a ridge beam as the backbone of the roofing system.

It s really about being efficient with both materials and labor. A rafter style roof for a home. Trusses are gradually replacing the conventional rafters to the point that nowadays more than 80 percent of new residential construction uses trusses to support the roof. You will find rafters in most older homes as they were the popular construction method for many years.

Though both rafters and trusses are commonly employed in conjunction it is possible to go with either of them while designing a roof. We will also outline the best uses of each so you can decide whether rafters or trusses are the right choice for your building project. There are both advantages and disadvantages while making a roof with rafters or trusses. Both will do a fine job in keeping the roof over your head but each functions in a slightly different manner.

They re more economical to build and offer the same or greater roof strength. Rafters could take an entire week to be installed whereas trusses could be installed in a day which means trusses could save a lot of time. In this guide we will define roof trusses and rafters and explain the pros and cons of each for comparison. Trusses are prefabricated roof structures whereas rafters are assembled on site.

The type of construction you have will dictate the approach on how to repair your home.