That’s a solid point about attic access. I went with trusses on my place because the price difference was just too much to ignore, but I’ll admit, crawling around up there to run new wiring or check for leaks is a pain. There’s barely any room, and I’ve whacked my head more times than I care to count. On the other hand, the upfront savings let me put in better insulation and a sturdier roof deck, so it’s a trade-off.
I’m in a part of Texas where hail is a yearly thing, and after the last storm, I really wished I had more space to get in and patch things up from the inside. Ended up having to pull down some drywall just to get at a leak. If I ever build again, I’ll probably budget for rafters, even if it means cutting back somewhere else. You’re right—sometimes that extra flexibility pays off in the long run, especially if you plan on staying put for a while.
I’ll admit, crawling around up there to run new wiring or check for leaks is a pain. There’s barely any room, and I’ve whacked my head more times than I care to count.
That’s the main headache with trusses—attic access just isn’t the same. I’ve seen folks try to retrofit access panels or even cut out webbing (not recommended), but it rarely solves the problem. Rafters do cost more, but for anyone planning to do their own wiring or maintenance, that extra headroom can really save time and hassle. In Texas, with all the hail you get, having space to inspect and patch from inside is a real advantage. Still, can’t blame you for going with trusses if it meant better insulation and a tougher deck—sometimes you just have to pick your battles.
sometimes you just have to pick your battles.
Ain’t that the truth. I’ve played Twister up there more times than I’d like, trying to dodge truss webs while dragging a shop light and a tool bag. The upside is, my head’s probably tougher than the roof deck by now. Trusses definitely win for speed and insulation, but yeah, if you ever want to stand up straight in your attic again, rafters are the way to go. Still, in Texas heat, I’ll take a cooler attic—just wish it didn’t come with so many bruises.
I get the appeal of trusses for insulation, but I’ve seen a lot of folks regret not having usable attic space later on. Sometimes you don’t realize how handy it is to be able to walk upright up there until you’re crawling around with a flashlight, trying not to whack your head. Have you ever run into issues with HVAC or wiring access? I’ve found truss webs can make even simple repairs a pain. Curious if that’s been a problem for you, or if it’s just me running into that mess.
I hear you on the truss headaches. When we built our place about 12 years ago, I went with trusses because everyone kept telling me it was the “modern” way—faster, cheaper, better insulation, all that jazz. And yeah, it’s true, the insulation is a breeze and the roofline looks clean. But man, I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve been up there cursing those webs when I’m trying to run a new wire or just check for a leak. It’s like a jungle gym for adults, except you’re carrying tools and trying not to step through the drywall.
The worst was when I had to replace a section of ductwork last summer. The HVAC guy basically laughed and said he’d need a contortionist on staff to get it done. Ended up doing most of it myself, crawling around like some kind of attic goblin. If I’d gone with rafters and a proper attic floor, it would’ve been a walk in the park—literally.
I get why people like trusses for energy efficiency, but honestly, if you ever think you’ll need storage or want to run anything new up there (satellite cable, ethernet, whatever), rafters just make life easier. My neighbor did his addition with rafters and has this big open attic he uses for storage and even a little workshop space. Meanwhile, I’m stuck shoving bins between webs and hoping nothing falls through.
If I could do it over again, I’d probably bite the bullet on cost and go with rafters, at least over part of the house. Trusses are fine if you never plan to touch your attic again, but that’s rarely how things work out. Just my two cents from someone who’s spent too many hours wedged between 2x4s with a headlamp...
