What You Need To Know About Roof Rafters And Trusses
When planning to build a new house or home addition, you need to determine what will support your roof. Two options you can choose from are rafters and trusses. Deciding between the two will depend on the structure of your home and your goals.
Continue reading to learn more about roof rafters and trusses.

What Are Rafters?
Rafters are long planks, typically 2 x 10s or 2 x 12s, that run down from the central ridge beam at the peak of the roof. These planks intersect with a structure’s exterior walls and support the sheathing and roof. Professionals also call this method stick framing. Moreover, ceiling joists that extend horizontally across the attic’s floor between the outside walls and hold the walls together. Along with the rafters, they create a unified roof and attic structure.
What Are Trusses?
Trusses are factory-made wood structures, typically made of wood. They form a triangle-based webbing that supports the roof. Built along with the trusses, chords are sloping beams that extend to the peak of the truss. The integration of these two components results in even weight distribution in a wider area of the roof.
How Do You Know Which You Need?
Consulting an experienced roofing contractor can help you decide between rafters and trusses. With rafters, you’ll have usable attic space, which you can turn into an extra room or storage. This option also provides attic insulation that works as a radiant barrier. Rafters also give you more ceiling options like vaulted and cathedral styles. However, it may take longer to construct than trusses.
Meanwhile, it may take only a day to build rafters, especially when they are small enough for two to three workers to carry. Since trusses are made in a factory using computer-supported saws and equipment, they’re built with exceptional quality control. Third-party organizations may also inspect and certify trusses. They offer exceptional strength since they are made to effectively distribute the roof’s weight over a wider area. With this option, you may not have as much attic space that you can use for storage or convert into an extra room.
Search for the best roofing company for your project? At Punum Roofing of Houston, Inc., we have been providing only high-quality roofing services since 1998. Give us a call at (713) 466-4447, or fill out our contact form to get a free estimate.
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