Engineered Roof Trusses Vs Stick Framing

Stick frame it if you know how.

Engineered roof trusses vs stick framing.

Conventional framing the first thing to understand is how a roof framed with wood i joists differs structurally from a traditional stick framed roof. The traditional means of supporting a roof is rafters otherwise known as stick framing cut built and installed on site by an expert carpenter. Then dimensional lumber called rafters are cut to fit one piece at a time and shoved up to a framer on the roof that s balancing on scaffolding who installs the rafters. Rafters are made from sloped framing boards of dimensional lumber usually 2x8s or 2x10s connecting the roof peak called the ridge board to the plates of the exterior walls.

However if you want to better utilize the space in your loft you may consider changing roof trusses and going for stick framing or rafters instead. 4 major pros of stick framing. On long straight gables and depending on the roofing material dips or waves can really stand out. It starts with setting ridge and valley beams above the house walls.

Many times depending on the truss company you can get some really bad waves in the roofslope. Roof trusses pros. Though they use completely different processes there are pros and cons to each method. Let s go through a few lists of pros and cons of both stick framing and trusses to begin.

I really believe you get a nicer roof doing it conventionally. I can understand some of the arguments against trusses and i can understand some the arguments against rafter frame as well. Though the stick process is an older process it is still very popular. The roof and ceiling can be attached to the same member.

Here are some of the things that i feel are pros and cons of both that i have learned from my experience in the construction industry as a truss designer. Roof trusses have been used in the majority of new homes during recent years. Stick framing is building the roof on the construction site one piece or board at a time. Remember any alterations to a roof should be undertaken only with an engineer.

Stick framing cons. If any last minute changes are made to how things look it can simply be changed one piece at a time. Roof trusses are a common means of support and load bearing.