In The Field: Fascinating Facts About Construction And Contractors

Over the past few decades, there has been a remarkable change in the residential construction roofing industry. Gradually, trusses are replacing traditional rafters as the preferred roofing design. Statistics indicate that over 80 percent of new home developments prefer trusses to rafters. This article examines some of the benefits of the truss system over conventional rafters, and why it is becoming a popular choice for modern homeowners and builders.  

Trusses Span Greater Distances than Rafters -- Since trusses are made of smaller and light pieces of timber connected with tooth plates, they can stretch up to 60 feet. Their length and stability minimises the use of load-bearing walls to provide support to the roof. It is expensive and rare to find conventional wood framing that can stretch beyond 20 feet. With traditional rafters, you would need to link multiple beams to attain the same length as trusses. Therefore, the long span of truss systems enables builders to create an open floor plan, which is preferred by discerning modern home owners.

Costs of manufacturing and Installation -- Arguably, the most noteworthy contributor to the adoption of trusses is that the overall installation costs are far much lower compared to that of rafters. The process of manufacturing and treating timber increases costs, making trusses more expensive per meter than conventional rafters. However, the gain is appreciated when considering the total cost of installation such as labour needs and material usage. Conventional rafters require custom-building, cutting, and on-site installation, which add to the construction cost. On the other hand, trusses are designed and manufactured off-site. All a builder needs to do is to install them when brought on-site thus drastically minimising expenses.     

Design Flexibility and Integrity -- Home development technology is constantly evolving forcing contractors to work with a diverse and intricate variety of roof plans. Roof truss systems can be tailored to meet the complexity and practicality of all types of roof designs that a builder or homeowner prefers. Trusses enable a builder to accommodate complex features such as cathedral ceilings, mansard, cross gables, and unique angles. These features, in many instances, would be prohibitively pricey when a contractor uses rafters. Potential homeowners can also take solace in the fact that trusses are made using cutting edge engineering designs. Engineers design the finer details of the truss system with a high level of precision, which guarantees a homeowner a greater degree of confidence its integrity.

Many home developers and contractors will argue that the roof truss design is getting a foothold in the residential construction industry because of the above benefits. If you prefer a cost-effective roof design, optimal installation efficiency and speed with a touch of an environmental friendly system, then roof trusses is your go-to design. Talk to a roof truss supplier for more information.