This question comes up in every building design.

Is it better to use rafters or roof trusses?

You may be wondering what the difference is between these two.  Here are some guidelines as to which will be a better fit your new building design.

Traditional Rafters

40 years ago, all homes were built with traditional rafter roofs.  That was back when used dimensional lumber (i.e. 2×8’s or 2×10’s) to support the roof.

Cost

So why aren’t rafters used in new homes today?  It’s because roof trusses are less expensive.  Roof trusses have smaller wood members engineered to provide a similar strength without all the expensive wood.

It’s really about being efficient with both materials and labor.  The trusses are built in a controlled environment.  And because these plants are automated, they can build the trusses for less than it takes to install rafters on site.

Time Savings

Rafters take a tremendous amount of time to install at the job site compared to roof trusses.  Experienced carpenters can install the roof trusses on an average home in the U.S. in a day.   Rafters 0n the other hand could take as much as a week to install.

Rafters for Open Design

One of the major benefits for using rafters is the open space they create.  If you plan on creating a vaulted space, rafters will help you maximize the open area.  Trusses can create vaulted ceilings but they are not quite as efficient at opening up an area as traditional rafters.

Rafters are also useful for creating an open area for living space.   Again, trusses can create this same open area but not quite as efficiently.

Lead Times

One other benefit to using rafters over trusses is the lead times.  Roof truss systems require engineering and drawings.  This can take several weeks.  Rafters allow you to get started faster.

Rafters for Small Projects

When a job is small, rafters are many times the only way to go.  For example, if you are putting a small addition on your home, it may not make sense to go through the hassle of creating a roof truss design and layout.  A garage is another example of a small project where you may want to just use rafters.

Remote Projects

Sometimes it makes sense to use rafters based on the location of your new home project.  If your building site is not easily accessible, it may be difficult to get roof trusses out to the building site because of their bulk.  Depending on the roof configuration, the trusses can be quite long and wide.  Even the average home built with roof trusses will need an 18 wheeler wide load for delivery.

Quality

When it comes to quality, there really is no difference between rafters and roof trusses.  Unless you are going for an exposed rafter look, the end result will be the same whether you go with roof trusses or rafters.  So, your decision to use one over another really comes down to cost.  Be sure to price out both options to a minimum of three frame carpenters, three lumber suppliers, and three truss companies.  You will need to figure the cost of the crane to set the roof trusses and make sure the truss companies include the delivery fee in their price.  This should allow you to decide if rafters are right for your project.

No matter which way you go always go with quality first.  Contact FrankieZed Studios learn more on how we can help with your building designs.