When you begin a new building design, one of the main components to consider is how to construct the roof. When planning, you may think, should you cut the roof on-site or use prefabricated rafters or roof trusses? We’ll help you with this decision.
Is using roof trusses cheaper than a site cut roof?
When comparing the prices of roof trusses and loose timbers, the trusses will equate to being the most cost-effective solution.
The roof trusses will be prefabricated off-site and delivered at the stage of construction where they are needed. They are also very easy to install. Together with this greatly reduces labour and other costs on-site.
A roof cut on-site will generally lead to more waste materials as stock lengths are limited – translating to a higher spend than needed. A roof cut on-site will also need the skill of experienced carpenters and extra time for installation – possibly a number of weeks instead of days. Everything adds up to additional costs.
On the majority of buildings, roof trusses will be the more affordable option.
Are roof trusses stronger than site-cut roofs?
Roof trusses are expertly engineered structures for creating roofs – backed up by state of the art computer technology. Therefore, a very strong product is created, one which is capable of spanning a distance much greater than a timber section used alone.
A loose rafter, even if it is larger than a truss, is not capable of holding a roof as wide as a truss could. It would need extra load-bearing support along its lengths such as purlins or load-bearing walls.
When engineered to perfection, a loose cut roof still can perform to the same standard as a trussed roof – but choosing the best solution depends on the project. Loose cut roofs can work for smaller dwellings but roof trusses are an excellent choice for most.
Are roof trusses or site-cut roofs more environmentally friendly?
Both roof trusses and site cut roofs have a minimal impact on the environment. They’re both created using timber which will be from sustainable sources and will be manufactured with low levels of emissions and pollution.
Roof trusses have a lower impact on the environment due to being manufactured off-site, using only the wood which is needed. Cut-offs in these warehouses will be recycled and used for other projects where they fit.
We hope that this has aided you in your decision whether to use site-cut roofs or roof trusses. If you would like any further information or would like to find out more about the roofing solutions we offer at Aber Roof Truss, please feel free to contact us.