Building a New Home? Why You Should Consider Roof Trusses Instead

More people than ever these days are opting to build their home from scratch, rather than buying one "off the shelf." As they make their plans however, they realise that this can be a lengthy process and they will need a certain amount of patience to see it through to completion. Certainly, home construction is steeped in tradition and relies on many proven techniques that have been developed over generations.

New techniques have recently come into the picture as well and if you're in this situation, you should look at your roof construction in a different light. Why should you consider trusses instead of conventional methods?

Traditional Approach

Until quite recently, builders would rely on a stick frame roofing technique that was felt to be the safest and easiest approach to building a roof. However, this approach might take a long time and would have to be painstakingly crafted on-site by a team of specialist roofers and carpenters. Piece by piece, they would have to join together joists, rafters, ridge boards and other components, and each one of these elements would need to be cut carefully on site to make sure that everything matched. As you can imagine, there would be a fair amount of trial and error to make sure that the project came together correctly.

Remote Construction

The roof truss, in contrast, is put together at a remote facility and is fabricated using a very different approach. Each one is built to order using precise specifications that have been provided by the designer and everything takes place under a covered roof to avoid exposure to the elements. This is very beneficial as old-style timber does not react very well if exposed to very high temperatures before being covered. Builders have to ensure that they keep an eye on the weather while constructing the roof using traditional methods, in order to avoid distortion.

Delivery Is Simple

Trusses can be delivered to the facility according to a set schedule, so they can be added to the structure and covered up in the least amount of time. Consequently, the project supervisor can plan delivery and installation to match the short-term weather forecast and avoid any unnecessary exposure during that period.

Many Benefits

Your costs can be significantly contained due to these efficiencies, as you will need fewer contractors on site and can save on labour costs, so you should have a word with your architects, builders, roof truss suppliers and designers to see if this would be a far better solution for your project.