Three Reasons to Use Prefabricated Roof Trusses
Posted on: 27 January 2020
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While you can construct the internal structure of your roof yourself, it's also worth thinking about using prefabricated products. Rather than constructing your roof on-site, you can order manufactured roof trusses that come ready to install.
When should you take this option?
1. You're on a Tight Budget
You'll probably spend more money constructing trusses on-site than having them manufactured off-site. For a start, you'll have individual material costs which could go over your budget if the build hits a snag. You also have potentially increased labour costs.
If you install prefabricated trusses, then you get economies of scale on materials. You know what you're paying for upfront.
Plus, it's a lot quicker to install a ready-made truss than to build one from scratch. Your building crew can get the roof's structure in place much more quickly, which reduces labour costs for this part of the build.
2. You Want to Cut Back on Load-Bearing Walls
If you build a rafter-based roof truss system yourself, then you may need to factor in load-bearing walls inside your home. You need to make sure that the roof gets the right support.
This can be a pain if you wanted an open-plan design in your home. You may have to add load-bearing solutions that detract from your original interior design plan.
Prefabricated trusses are engineered differently. They can cover wider and more complex areas without needing as much load-bearing support. You get a better chance of sticking to your original design.
3. You're Building in Bad Weather
In an ideal world, you'll build your home when the weather is good; however, this isn't always possible. Delays that leave you having to work through spells of bad weather can affect the materials you use and the shell of your home itself.
For example, if you build your own truss, and the weather is rainy or humid, then the materials your builder stores on your site could get damp or even wet. They'll not go up in the truss in great shape.
Also, bad weather can affect the shell of your home. It's relatively open to bad weather until the roof goes on.
Prefabricated trusses are stored in the factory that makes them. They stay dry and in good shape. Their fast installation time also reduces the time your house has to sit without a roof covering.
Talk to your roofer to learn more about prefabricated truss options and their benefits.