Looking to build your house with roof trusses? Roof trusses are a modern alternative to the traditional stick roof framing. They have become a popular option among today's homeowners and home builders alike because they offer many incredible advantages over traditional rafter roofs. These benefits include faster roof installation, lower roof installation costs and larger clear spans, just to mention a few.
When planning your roof construction project, it is important to think about the type of roof trusses to use. One of the key design elements to consider during the truss selection process is the material used to make the trusses. Generally, all roof trusses are made of wood, steel or a combination of both materials.
Think through the following factors to ensure you pick the right material for your roof trusses.
Structural Strength of the Material
As structural elements of your roof, wood and steel roof trusses offer varying levels of strength. This means that they have different load-bearing capacities. Your choice of material for a trussed roof will depend on the weight of the roofing material to be installed over the trusses. Steel trusses are generally sturdier than their wooden cousins and are ideal for applications where maximum structural support is needed for the roof structure.
Durability of the Material
As well as being sturdier than their wooden alternatives, steel roof trusses also tend to last longer. This is because they won't warp or rot like wood, over time. What's more, wood-loving insects, such as termites and wood-borers, won't feed on steel buildings. Corrosion is the number-one enemy of steel trusses, but with modern products can be kept corrosion-free for a longer period, owing to advancements in protective coating systems available for steel.
Although they don't last as long as their steel counterparts, wood trusses are reasonably long-lasting, as long as exposure to the destructive elements is minimised.
Need to Make Modifications in the Future
Planning to convert your roof attic into functional space at some point in the future? If so, it is important to note that your roof truss material can influence the amount of work that will need to get done to successfully execute the modification. Timber trusses can be cut easily and accommodate the mod while their steel alternatives are relatively more difficult to change because of their sturdy nature and construction.
For the most part, building construction professionals, such as architects and builders, can help you choose the perfect roof trusses for your project. But there is no harm in knowing some of the things they consider before making a final decision.