Yeah, I hear you on the insulation headache—ran into that myself after a hailstorm a few years back. We had to replace half the roof, and the old trusses just weren’t up to code for the heavier materials we wanted. Engineer came in, same deal: lots of extra bracing, and it wasn’t cheap. But honestly, after seeing what wind can do to underbuilt roofs, I’d rather overdo it than risk a collapse. Rafters can be tempting for smaller jobs, but those odd spans really do make trusses the safer bet sometimes. Just wish I’d thought through the venting better before closing everything up... live and learn.
That venting issue comes up more than folks realize—once everything’s sealed up, it’s a pain to retrofit. I’ve seen a lot of attic moisture problems just because the original design didn’t account for enough airflow, especially after upgrades or repairs. Trusses do make things easier for odd spans and heavier loads, but you’re right, the upfront engineering and bracing can be a shock to the wallet. I’ve inspected a few jobs where someone tried to save money by skimping on bracing, and it never ends well. If you’re in a high-wind area, overbuilding isn’t really overkill—it’s just smart.
I get where you’re coming from about overbuilding in high-wind areas, but I’ve gotta say, sometimes it feels like the pendulum swings a little too far. I’m in a spot that gets its fair share of storms, and when I re-roofed a few years back, the contractor wanted to go all-in on hurricane ties and extra bracing everywhere. The quote was wild. I ended up talking to a couple neighbors who’d been through the same thing, and honestly, most of them had roofs that held up just fine with standard code bracing—even after some nasty wind events.
Not saying you should cut corners (I’ve seen what happens when folks try to save a buck on structure—never pretty), but there’s a point where you’re just throwing money at “what ifs.” Sometimes it’s more about making sure the work is done right, not just piling on more material. I’ve seen trusses installed perfectly but still have issues because the venting was an afterthought or insulation blocked airflow. That’s where the real headaches start—moldy insulation, soggy sheathing, all that fun stuff.
One thing I do like about stick framing (rafters) is you can tweak things as you go, especially if you’re dealing with an older house that’s not exactly square. Trusses are great for speed and big spans, but once they’re in, you’re locked in. Had a buddy who wanted to add a skylight later and it turned into a whole ordeal because of the truss layout.
Anyway, just my two cents. Sometimes “overbuilding” is smart, sometimes it’s just expensive. Making sure everything’s planned out—especially venting and future access—seems to save more headaches than just beefing up every board.
I get the hesitation about overbuilding, especially when the price tag starts climbing. But I’ve seen some pretty wild wind events here in the Midwest, and honestly, code minimums don’t always cut it. My neighbor’s roof met code, but after last spring’s straight-line winds, he was patching up more than a few shingles. Meanwhile, another guy down the block had gone for the extra hurricane ties and barely had a scratch. I’m not saying you have to go overboard, but sometimes that upfront investment pays off in peace of mind (and fewer repairs).
On the truss vs. rafter thing, I get the flexibility argument for rafters, but trusses saved me a ton on labor and materials when I built my garage. I guess it comes down to what you’re willing to risk and how much you want to spend fixing stuff later.
Funny enough, I just inspected a place last week where the homeowner had gone with trusses and hurricane straps, and his roof held up great after that nasty windstorm we had. But a couple blocks over, rafters plus minimal bracing didn’t fare so well—lost a few sections of sheathing. Ever notice if certain roof shapes in your area seem to take more damage, or is it just random?
