Evolution in roof framing has been visible over the years.
Gone are the days when rafters dominate the construction industry when it comes to roof framing.
At present, 90% of home and building construction now use trusses as their roof frames.
With this dramatic shift, one could ask, what happened to rafters?
What are its pros and cons?
Which one is really better?
In this article
Related:Parts of a roof
What is a rafter?
Rafters are usually made out of 28 or 210 lumber.
What is a truss?
A truss is a pre-made and pre-assembled triangular frame for roofs.
Like rafters, trusses are also made out of sloping planks called beams.
Running horizontally through the length of the beam would be chords.
Multiple trusses are actually installed in homes spanning from end to end.
Related:Stick Built vs Modular Homes: Which One Is Better?
(A Comprehensive Comparison)
Whats the difference?
The main difference between trusses and rafters is how they are built.
Conventionally, rafters are built on-site after measuring the dimensions of the roof.
You would find rafters in older model homes and trusses in newer models.
Rafter pros
We can all concede that the attic will always be a promising space.
Using rafters ensures that there will always be enough space in the attic.
Aside from this, it also offers greater ceiling options if you want to renovate in the coming years.
Having more space in the attic makes insulating methods easier to employ.
Getting accurate measurements and having it assembled with precision takes time.
Rafter Cons
Paradoxically, rafters can also be time-consuming.
As per the usual estimate, rafters for a large house may take more than a week to build.
Hence, rafters are not only time-consuming but are more expensive to make too.
If you consult with contractors, chances are they will convince you to just shift on trusses.
This will leave you with the additional job of finding skilled workers that will build the rafters for you.
Note that trusses are measured digitally and are constructed with precision.
Sometimes, third-party quality control inspections also take place just to verify that sold trusses are sturdy and reliable.
The webbed, triangular design makes use of cheaper and shorter wood planks.
Future alterations in the roof frame is strongly encouraged when you obtain installed trusses.
It is considered as an independent structure and modifying it will greatly diminish its structural integrity.
Which one is better?
The answer to this really depends on you.
If you feel like your home will undergo modifications in the future, you should go with rafters.
Can you replace trusses with rafters?
The reason is that you will have to check the load-bearing capacity of your roof.
As a matter of fact, even their appearance would be identical.
