Roof Trsses Vs Rafters

Rafters consist of sloping outer beams which provide support.

Roof trsses vs rafters.

The type of construction you have will dictate the approach on how to repair your home. Because trusses are prefabricated in a factory accurate plans with exact dimensions must be submitted well ahead of the actual time when they will be required. Just as there are many types of roofs with many roof parts there are many different types of roof trusses this extensive article explains through a series of custom truss diagrams the different truss configurations you can use for various roofs. Because rafters are stick built on site at the time of need less advance planning is needed.

Rafters on the other hand contain two main beams to support the roof. You will find rafters in most older homes as they were the popular construction method for many years. 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. However trusses don t give you the opportunity for creativity in home design that rafters allow.

Rafters cost more than trusses as their installation process is labor intensive. Trusses are composed of multiple beams for added support. While this article focuses on configurations we also have a very cool set of illustrations showcasing the different parts anatomy of roof trusses. In general rafters are lighter and more flexible in use.

Rafters and trusses are those that support the roof. Both will do a fine job in keeping the roof over your head but each functions in a slightly different manner. On some restricted sites rafters are the only option both because there s no room to maneuver a crane and because there s no place to store trusses. Roof trusses are incredibly strong and quick to install and effectively transfer all the weight to the building s exterior walls relieving the load from the interior walls.

It is certainly true that trusses are more commonly used than rafters. Though both rafters and trusses are triangles in shape the trusses have more triangle webs inside the principle frame. As trusses are prefabricated they may be costlier than rafters however the installation and labor cost involved in roof rafters is comparatively higher than trusses. Make sure to stick around to the end of the show for something fu.

There s a lot to like. These attributes make them popular with remodeling contractors and custom builders. The two main types of roof supports are rafters and trusses. As roof trusses replace rafters as the standard choice for roof support in most multi family residential buildings architecture design completed a quick overview of timber versus steel roof trusses.

3 things to keep in mind when deciding the differences between a hand cut roof and trusses.