Roof trusses have been on the rise due to their versatility in housing development. They provide numerous benefits for residential as well as commercial buildings.
This has also led to a rise in construction costs, creating a higher scope for wood roof trusses. Wooden trusses are cost-effective and have high-grade functionality.
However, it’s important to choose specialized trusses over generic ones for long-term benefits. Understanding their investment benefits can help you in that aspect. This article will examine key reasons why wood trusses are a smart investment in 2025.
What are Wood Roof Trusses?
A wood roof truss is a system of interconnected wooden beams to support a roof. These beams are usually joined in triangular shapes. Even fancy shapes like domes and gambrel roofs could just be curved wood trusses attached in a triangle-like configuration.
Wooden trusses transfer the weight of the roof to the walls, making the housing structure sturdier. Such timber frame trusses hold the entire roof in place. There is a wide variety of wood roof truss configurations that can suit nearly every housing purpose.
Benefits of Using Wood Roof Trusses
The reasons to invest in a quality wood truss are countless. Below are the most critical reasons why wood trusses are popularly used.
A Roofing System with Superior Strength
Wood trusses are astonishingly solid and stable when engineered and installed properly.
Trusses reduce stress on the walls by evenly distributing weight through a web of angled boards. This allows you to have a wider span, allowing ease in building larger interiors. No load-bearing walls are present to interrupt your open floor plans.
Some companies create them in climate-controlled factories, producing dense and dried lumber. Those woods are often treated for humidity and pressure, reducing side effects like rot, fungus, and insects. Such wood roof trusses can also withstand heavy snow loads and high winds.
Smooth Installation Due to Less Human Error
Imagine your roofing getting completed in 3 days or less! Pre-manufactured wood trusses can get set up in a flash.
Most of the work is already done in the factory, leading to faster framing speeds. They only need to be lifted and secured into place. Construction projects are completed much quicker and easier.
But the trusses must be built with precision, according to the exact specs of the housing structure. On-site modifications might be necessary otherwise.
An Environmentally Sustainable Roofing Structure
Did you know that wood roof trusses can be an eco-friendly choice?
As prefabricated timber trusses are made to match the specific sizing, it cuts down on construction-site wooden waste. This leads to less landfilling.
Wooden structures also have a lighter carbon footprint than alternatives like steel or concrete. This keeps construction green. However, it’s better to use lumber from responsibly managed forests, where harvested trees are replaced with new ones.
Long-term Durability with Low Maintenance
Properly installed wood trusses require very little long-term maintenance. No sagging occurs or joint repairs are needed.
With periodic inspection and treatment, wood trusses can last over two generations—100 years or longer! Nonetheless, there isn’t much treatment required if it’s installed and reinforced correctly. Fire-retardant treated lumber is available for extra protection too.
Budget-Friendly through High Energy Efficiency
What if every time the furnace clicks on or the AC hums to life, your money gets saved?
The space between each truss can be packed with insulation, creating a blanket that traps heat in winter and keeps things cool in summer. This added insulation drastically reduces energy loss, lowering heating and cooling bills.
A wooden roof truss design minimizes thermal bridging while maximizing space for thick insulation. Optimal attic ventilation reduces moisture and heat buildup. The result is a high-performance roof that reduces wasted energy and keeps utility expenses in check, even in extreme weather.
Wood also has excellent thermal properties when compared to other materials like steel. A sturdy, well-insulated roof brings savings to homeowners through improved energy efficiency.
Lower Labor Costs, More Savings!
Pre-engineered wood trusses don’t require highly experienced craftspeople. There is also minimal waste from cutting rafters and joints, considering it was manufactured accurately. These savings equal lower labour costs.
It is much easier and quicker to insert long cable, pipe, and duck runs due to wide-open diagonal supports. Thus, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, and HVAC contractors can provide their services at reduced charges due to this.
Disadvantages of a Wood Roof Truss
In life, every great thing also has its low sides. Wood roof trusses are no exception to that. Below are the cons of wood trusses and how they can be mitigated.
Truss Uplift
Truss uplift occurs when the bottom-central part of a wood roof truss bends upward as the wood humidifies or dehumidifies. It raises the drywall in the ceiling, leading to cracks in the paint. Although this is not a structural issue, it tends to look unpleasant visually.
Mounting crown moulding on the ceilings of the whole second story and fastening the trim to the ceilings can resolve this issue. You could also use truss backing angles before hanging the drywall.
However, these solutions aren’t DIY and are best installed by expert roofing contractors.
Less Design Flexibility
If you’re trying to get creative with dramatic sloped lines or open concepts, it’s going to be a challenge with trusses. Prefabricated trusses limit your options for roof shape, pitch, and layout.
There are also smaller spaces for attic living spaces or vaulted ceilings. It’s certainly possible to have these spaces, but not for large areas and heavy loads.
For a more unique roofing system, you may get more freedom with stick framing or other alternatives.
High Shipping Costs due to Large material sizes
Shipping costs tend to be high due to the large dimensions of the wood required for roof trusses. Remote or hard-to-reach locations can also pose logistical headaches when transporting them. These massive, heavy structures aren’t easily hauled down narrow dirt roads or across rugged terrain.
You can manage these expenses by carefully planning with the truss manufacturer, the building contractor, and transportation providers. Working closely with seasoned freight carriers to find cost-effective solutions is key.
Some coordination, creative thinking, and communication early in construction can keep wood roof truss shipping costs reasonable.
Should You Get a Wood Roof Truss?
Over 60% of houses in the North American region are built with wood roof trusses. Canada alone has 95% of its new homes framed with timber roof trusses.
Wood roof trusses aren’t just attractive; they offer benefits that can make your home stronger, safer, and more energy efficient. Yes, they certainly have their downsides. But you can mitigate those issues with the help of experienced wood construction contractors.
We highly recommend consulting with truss engineering professionals to discuss and design the optimal wood truss system for your roof. You can better understand how it will benefit your residential or commercial projects that way.
Conclusion
Wood roof trusses look beautiful, withstand nature’s elements, open up space, and help control energy costs. The proven durability and charm of wood make it an ideal choice for most people.
With proper selection, installation, and maintenance, wood trusses provide an efficient roofing solution. They are time-tested, economical, and eco-friendly. Following best practices can allow you to take full advantage of wood trusses.
We hope this article has helped you choose better for your own home or construction purposes!
FAQs
How Do I Design a Wood Roof Truss?
Designing a wood roof truss requires careful engineering and planning. The process goes as follows:
- Analyzing the span and pitch of the roof to determine the appropriate truss configuration and dimensions.
- Calculating the load requirements based on snow load and any other environmental factors.
- Using structural design principles to select the proper size and spacing of truss members.
- Choosing suitable wood species and grades to achieve the required strength and rigidity.
- Working with reputable truss manufacturers and providing them with your completed design for fabrication.
- Following best installation practices for truss bracing, connections, and load paths.
Or, you could simply outsource all of this work to roofing contractors.
What is the Cheapest and Strongest Type of Roof Truss?
Wood roof trusses provide the best value for money, at $60 to $400 per truss. They are also used in commercial buildings, which signify their strength and trustworthiness.
Is It Cheaper to Build or Buy Roof Trusses?
Prefabricated wood roof trusses will cost much less than building them on-site. Hence, it is much cheaper to buy roof trusses directly, including custom wood trusses.
What is the Most Effective Truss?
For the past 200 years, the Pratt Truss has proven to be a reliable truss system. The diagonal beams are in tension, and the vertical beams are in compression. As a result, the outcome is more effective since there is less steel in the diagonal components that are under strain.
Why Are Wood Roof Trusses Used?
Without a roofing support, any roof could collapse easily. Roof framing is crucial for maintaining the integrity of a home. That’s why trusses, rafters, or other roof framing methods are used.
Wood roof trusses, in particular, are great for –
- Creating spaces for insulation and rainwater drainage.
- Bearing forces like wind and snow due to wood’s ability to flex.
- Providing stability as downward forces are channeled along the triangular braces into counteracting upward forces.
And tons of other advantages, which are mentioned in detail above.
Is It Possible to Build a Roof Without Trusses?
It is possible. Flat roofs, for example, don’t need trusses to be held together. Generic, standard roofs use rafters instead of trusses, such as roofs without any slopes. Before the 19th century, roofs were often built without trusses.