Rafters vs. roof trusses: which is best for your construction project?

Are you planning your next residential or commercial construction project and may be wondering about the different structural options available to you? In particular, what is the best choice between truss and rafter design?

In fact, these two types of structures, while serving the same purpose, are not necessarily suited for the same projects. The use of roof truss and, in general, prefabricated wood structure is becoming more and more popular. However, in some specific cases, rafters do have a say!

In this article, learn more about the differences between trusses and rafters.

What to look for when comparing machined roof trusses and rafters

When choosing between roof trusses or rafters for your project, the following factors are important to consider.

Manufacturing and installation process

Rafter structures are measured, cut and assembled directly at the construction site. This means that there have to be many experienced workers on site to accomplish the job. In addition, rafter installation takes an enormous amount of time. Sometimes up to a week.

Roof trusses, on the other hand, are easier to install. They are prefabricated in a factory using a very precise and controlled process, which ensures exceptional quality. There is no need for additional labour on the construction site to build them.

Roof trusses can also be delivered to your construction site at a specific time. Once the prefabricated walls of the building have been erected, all you have to do is install the roof trusses and you’re done.

Are these two structures suitable for the same types of buildings?

You should also know that rafters require load-bearing walls to be installed. For this reason, rafters are often used for smaller constructions.

Roof trusses, on the other hand, do not require them and can be installed on structures of all sizes. They are often used for the construction of large buildings, such as apartment buildings, as well as for small home extensions.

The price of roof trusses and rafters: which is cheaper?

A major reason why there are fewer and fewer rafter roof structures is the cost-effectiveness of prefabricated roof structures. They are built to be more efficient without resorting to the use of expensive wood.

In addition, automated processes and efficient factory construction conditions make roof trusses much faster to build and cheaper to manufacture.

UsiHome roof trusses, superior quality at a great price

In short, rafters are more suitable for smaller projects given the construction time and expertise required for their installation. Machined roof trusses, on the other hand, can be used for any type of project because they are quick to build and install. In addition, their price is more attractive, especially for larger projects.

At UsiHome, we offer a professional and efficient service for the manufacturing of roof trusses and other machined wood structures. Contact us to work with us for your next construction project!