Trusses vs Rafters
Trusses and rafters are the most important elements of the roof support structure.
There are major differences in how they’re made and both have their advantages and disadvantages.
Trusses are made using precision machinery and the high-speed production line with a minimum amount of hand assembly. This process takes place in the factory and once the assembly is completed trusses need to be transported on-site.
Rafters are more of a traditional way of constructing the roof. Building with rafters is known as stick framing and involves measuring, cutting and assembling the rafters on site which is very labour intensive.
Are trusses better then rafters? What is a cheaper, stronger material and why? And lastly how long does it take to construct frames and rafters?
Let’s look at the advantages and disadvantages of both framing methods below.
Are trusses stronger than rafters?
Trusses can produce maximum strength with fewer materials compared to rafters which use up more timber. The webbing effect of the timber creates high structural strength for the roof trusses. The whole structure can be designed with the use of advanced software and manufactured using precision machinery.
Rafters can provide similar strength but with heavier materials and less precision than trusses.
What is cheaper, rafters or trusses?
Trusses are cheaper to construct due to the minimum labour cost and can be 30–50% cheaper then rafters that need to be cut and assembled on site.
This estimate doesn’t include the transport, which can be very expensive for trusses for remote or hard to access areas.
Are trusses more accurate then rafters?
If there are any mistakes in the fabrication of trusses there are due to incorrect dimensions entered into the software. The manufacturing process is automated and computer-controlled resulting in an impressive precision.
There are more chances for rafters to be inaccurate because of the hand measuring and assembly.
How long does it take to install roof trusses vs rafters?
Trusses can be installed as fast as one day on a 230sqm house compared to a week for rafters on a similar size project. The installation of trusses is extremely fast however it will still involve transport and heavy machinery for unloading the components. It is also important to be aware of the production lead times as they can easily exceed 4 weeks during a busy period.
For simple roof construction, rafters might be the way to go if you have the skills to complete the job. Check out this video of Trusses vs Rafters cost comparison for garage construction:
Overall trusses are a clear winner when it comes to the roof construction, especially for the larger projects.
Rafters can still be a good choice for more customized designs where time and cost are not an issue or the building site cannot be reached by an affordable method of transportation.
