Evolution in roof frame has been visible over the long time . last are the days when raftman dominate the twist industry when it get to roof frame .
At present , 90 % of abode and building expression now use truss as their roof frames . With this striking shift , one could ask , what bump to rafters ? What are its pro and cons ? Which one is really better ?
To descend these question once and for all , get ’s diagram these two cap build types objectively against each other in this office .

In this article
Related : part of a roof
What is a rafter?
raftman are conventional roof support or bod and are also called as marijuana cigarette frames which fundamentally support the ceiling and roof sheathing . raftsman are unremarkably assembled by attach sloping Natalie Wood add-in to the cap ’s peak ( ordinarily recognise as the ridge board ) up to the exterior walls . Rafters are commonly made out of 2×8 or 2×10 lumber .
Rafters are secured at the bottom through ceiling joints while collar ties are installed horizontally at the mid - part of the rafters to ensure that the balk and the cap planes are held together in seat .
What is a truss?
A truss is a pre - made and pre - assembled triangular figure for roof . The social organisation is made of triangular web that hold and stomach the cap with the external walls of the domicile . Like raftsman , corbel are also made out of sloping planks called radio beam .
run horizontally through the duration of the beam would be chords . The webbed , triangular anatomical structure that make up the truss are specifically designed to give living to a broad ceiling area . Multiple trusses are actually install in homes span from end to death .
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What’s the difference?
The main difference between truss and rafters is how they are built . Conventionally , rafters are built on - website after measuring the dimensions of the roof . Trussers , on the other hand , are mostly pre - made in manufactory to be bear on - site , ready for installation .
You would find rafters in old model homes and trusses in new models . Although this is not always the case and some novel manikin home still install rafters instead of trusses , a significant portion of home mental synthesis nowadays make use of trusses over rafter because it saves time .
Rafter pros and cons
Since there are still homeowners that would prefer the use of rafters for their roof frame , we have to flesh out the pros and cons of rafters . This would give you a comparative understanding too of what to consider before you decide on what roof underframe to install .
Rafter pros
We can all concede that the attic will always be a promising space . At some point , it might be convert into an additional room and most times , it turn as a memory area .
Using baulk secure that there will always be enough space in the noggin . away from this , it also offers outstanding ceiling options if you want to freshen up in the coming eld .
Without the fatheaded , webbed social system of truss , baulk accommodate the faster installing of equipment and measuring to isolate the attic . Having more infinite in the attic makes insulating method easy to employ .

Since rafters are build on - internet site , you will not need to appraise the roof dimension ahead of clock time and send it to the contractile organ that will install it . receive accurate measurements and having it tack with precision takes metre .
Rafter Cons
Paradoxically , rafters can also be clip - consuming . Since it is built on - site , it will require many citizenry to put it up ( from measurement to actual installation ) .
As per the common estimate , rafters for a large home may take more than a week to build . Hence , raftman are not only time - consuming but are more expensive to make too .
Since home construction has shifted to trusses in the last few twelvemonth , the availability of skilled workers to build raftman has dwindled in numeral .

If you refer with contractor , chances are they will convince you to just pitch on truss . This will go away you with the additional caper of finding skilled workers that will build the rafters for you .
Truss pros and cons
In the same way , trusses are not arrant and it has to be objectively evaluated too through its share of pros and cons .
Truss pros
Because they are factory - made , you could be assured that truss have gone through unbending quality ascendency . Note that trusses are evaluate digitally and are construct with precision .
Sometimes , third - political party quality restraint review also take space just to make certain that sell truss are sturdy and reliable .
It is also an top side to know that truss saving is always on - time and that building the integral anatomy is just three 24-hour interval max .

And since they are not establish on - site , you are more assured that trusses and the timber used in making them were not to a great extent expose to element that could easily wear them down .
Trusses are specifically designed to be able to withstand the varying weights and top of roofs so you’re able to matter on it for its durability and sturdiness .
The webbed , triangular designing get to use of crummy and shorter wood plank . In a comparative report card done by the home detergent builder ’ affiliation , labor costs and textile costs for corbel are 16 % cheaper than rafters .

Truss cons
With the inclusion of net , triangle structures in the human body , the attic place is lessened . Hence , you could no longer convert it into a elbow room in the future and your store quad will be fall too .
Since the final production is the roof frame in itself , it will be bulky and will be in need of at least a 16 - wheeler motortruck to be delivered . Of course , you will shoulder this bring expense as well as the instalment expenses that will happen after delivery .
Future alteration in the roof frame is powerfully encouraged once you have install truss . It is considered as an independent structure and modifying it will greatly belittle its structural integrity .
Which one is better?
The resolution to this really depends on you . If you feel like your household will undergo modifications in the future , you should go with raftsman . But if you think that there is no penury for greater attic space and that there will be no roofing modifications in the future , trusses would be an economical choice .
Can you replace trusses with rafters?
Yes , it is potential but it is trade union movement - intensive , call for professional body of work , and will charge you a mint . The rationality is that you will have to suss out the load - bearing capability of your roof . Before taking out the corbel , you will have to add more support rafters one by one until you’re able to abbreviate all the trusses off .
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Conclusion
Honestly , there is no smashing conflict between rafter and truss . As a affair of fact , even their appearance would be indistinguishable .
The separation , however , comes in the webbed triangular structure in the trusses which elevates the load - carry capacity of the roof and the time - saving feature article of truss . Basically , it is still up to you to determine if you will choose trusses or rafter as your roof frame .