Cutting into truss webs honestly gives me chills. I’ve walked through more than a few attics where someone tried to “make a little more room” and ended up with sagging ceilings or cracked drywall after a storm. Trusses are engineered as a unit—once you mess with the webs, you’re really risking the whole structure. I get why folks want more storage, but it’s just not worth the gamble.
If you know you’ll need attic space, attic trusses or stick framing are definitely the safer bet. Rafters take longer to build out and cost more, but you get way more flexibility. I’ve seen some pretty creative storage setups with rafters—just takes more planning (and a bigger budget).
One thing I’d add: if you’re in a high-wind or snow area, trusses are usually beefed up for local codes, but only if they’re left as designed. I’ve seen insurance claims denied when someone hacked their trusses for an HVAC run or a pull-down ladder. It’s just not worth it. If you’re unsure, a quick consult with a structural engineer can save a lot of headaches down the road.
You nailed it—trusses are like a house of cards. Once you cut a web, the whole thing’s integrity is compromised. I’ve seen folks try to “just notch a little” for ductwork, then after a big windstorm, they’re dealing with bowed ceilings or even cracked rafters. The insurance angle is real too; adjusters can spot a hacked truss from a mile away, and that’s an easy way to get your claim tossed.
Rafters are definitely more forgiving if you want attic space, but yeah, you pay for it in both labor and materials. Personally, I’d rather budget for the right framing up front than risk a costly repair after a storm.
Cutting into trusses is just asking for trouble, I totally get that. Years ago, I helped a buddy fix up his 70s ranch after he “just made a little hole” for a bathroom vent. Looked fine at first, but the next spring we noticed a weird sag in the hallway ceiling. Turns out, the snow load had pushed things just enough to mess with the drywall. Insurance adjuster took one look and basically said, “Nope, you voided coverage the second you touched the truss.”
I’ve always been partial to rafters, especially when I’m working on green roofs or adding extra insulation. Yeah, it’s more upfront, but you get way more flexibility for running wires, pipes, or even sneaking in a skylight. The downside is, like you said, the cost—framing labor isn’t cheap and lumber prices are all over the place lately. Still, I’d rather pay once for solid structure than risk a domino effect from a shortcut.
Funny thing is, I’ve seen folks try to “sister” trusses after the fact, and it never looks right. If you want attic space or plan on any kind of roof mod, rafters are just less headache in the long run.
I get the appeal of rafters for flexibility, but I actually went with trusses when we built last year and haven’t regretted it (yet). The upfront cost was lower, and the install was way faster—our crew had the whole roof framed in a day. I was worried about running wires and vents, but our electrician found ways to work around the webs without cutting anything. For us, not needing attic space made trusses a pretty solid choice. I guess it really depends on what you need out of your roof.
Trusses are definitely faster and cheaper upfront, no argument there. But I’ve seen a lot of folks regret not having attic access after a few years—especially when storm season hits and you need to check for leaks or reinforce something. Rafters give you way more room to maneuver if you ever need to do repairs from the inside. If you’re in an area with heavy wind or hail, that flexibility can save you a headache down the line. Just my two cents from patching up storm damage for years...
