Trusses definitely keep things straightforward, but I've seen rafters done right too. Key is knowing exactly what you might add later—solar, attic storage, skylights—and planning spacing and load accordingly. A bit more work upfront saves a ton of hassle down the road.
Trusses are convenient, sure, but I'm not convinced they're always the best route. I've seen plenty of trussed roofs that severely limit attic usability, even when planned carefully. Rafters, though more labor-intensive, offer flexibility—especially if your plans evolve unexpectedly (and let's face it, they often do...). Still, your point about upfront planning is solid; whichever you choose, getting load calculations right from the start is crucial. Learned that lesson the hard way myself with a solar retrofit.
"Rafters, though more labor-intensive, offer flexibility—especially if your plans evolve unexpectedly (and let's face it, they often do...)."
Couldn't agree more with this point. I've been down this road myself, and while trusses are definitely quicker and easier to install, they can really box you in later on. A few years back, I decided to convert part of my attic into a small home office. With rafters, it was pretty straightforward—just had to reinforce a few spots and add insulation. But my neighbor, who had trusses installed when his house was built, ran into a nightmare scenario trying to do something similar. He ended up having to hire an engineer and contractor just to figure out how to safely modify the trusses without compromising structural integrity. It turned into a costly headache.
That said, I'm not totally against trusses either. If you're absolutely certain you'll never need that attic space for anything beyond basic storage or insulation, then sure—they're efficient and cost-effective. But life has a funny way of throwing curveballs at you (like your solar retrofit experience), and it's always good to have some wiggle room.
One thing I'd add is that if you're leaning toward rafters for flexibility reasons, make sure you factor in proper ventilation from the get-go. Rafters can sometimes complicate airflow if you're not careful about ridge vents or soffit vents placement. I've seen folks overlook this step initially and end up with moisture issues down the line.
Bottom line: whichever route you take, don't skimp on planning or load calculations. It's tempting to rush through that stage because it's tedious and technical—but trust me, it's worth the extra effort upfront to avoid headaches later on.
Good points all around, especially on ventilation—seen too many attics with mold issues from overlooked airflow.
"life has a funny way of throwing curveballs at you"
Speaking of curveballs...anyone had experience retrofitting skylights later on? Curious how rafters vs trusses impacted that project.
Retrofitting skylights can definitely throw you some curveballs, haha. Did a project a few years back where the homeowner had trusses, and it was a bit trickier than rafters would've been. With rafters, you've got more flexibility to frame around the skylight opening. Trusses, though...you've gotta be careful not to compromise structural integrity. Ended up needing an engineer to sign off on some modifications. Totally doable, just takes extra planning and patience.
"seen too many attics with mold issues from overlooked airflow."
Couldn't agree more—ventilation's key, especially after adding skylights.
