Roof Design Truss Vs Rafter

A rafter style roof for a home.

Roof design truss vs rafter. While rafters and trusses have many similar loads and parts including sloping boards and bottom joists the functional difference between these two roofing structures is the narrower dimensional boards of trusses that make them less sturdy than rafters. While this article focuses on configurations we also have a very cool set of illustrations showcasing the different parts anatomy of roof trusses. It s also simpler to accommodate a home addition with rafter roofing. Stick framing is flexible and may be altered without compromising the structure.

A typical 2 000 square foot home framing costs between 7 000 and 12 000 for a truss roof. Trusses on the other hand are pre engineered with internal webbing to support the span of the roof. The boards creating the slope of the roof are wider than lumber used to build trusses 2x8s 2x10s and 2x12s are most common in rafters vs. This design allows for a single rafter to span from the ridge to the exterior wall which creates the maximum amount of attic space.

Unlike stick built rafter construction that is done on site most trusses are made in a factory and delivered to the work site ready for installation. This is our ultimate roof rafter guide for people designing and building an off grid cabin or tiny home. Rafter boards are fastened to the ridge board at the peak and the top plate where they join the wall. How much does roof framing cost.

Just as there are many types of roofs with many roof parts there are many different types of roof trusses this extensive article explains through a series of custom truss diagrams the different truss configurations you can use for various roofs. Stick framing is slightly more because of increased labor. Roof trusses on the other hand are engineered and manufactured at the factory and take less time to be installed at the construction site. While rafters are less and less frequently used today due to the higher cost of rafters vs trusses they do have certain advantages.

For good looks as in the case of vaulted or cathedral ceilings as well as practical purposes like building an extra bedroom home office or storage. Roofing specialists architects and structural engineers carefully design prefabricated roofing. Available at a cheaper cost roof rafters can be customized at the construction site according to the property s specifications. As a result you can create open space under the roof.

Discover the pros and cons to multiple roof designs. Because of the professional expertise and time required for rafter construction roofs built using rafters can cost as much as 50 more than roofs built using trusses. A truss roof system does not use a ridge beam as the backbone of the roofing system.