I've actually found that rafters aren't always as tricky as people make them out to be. Did a conversion on my old place—built in the 40s—and honestly, the rafters were solid as-is. Sure, we had to beef up a couple spots, but nothing major. Sometimes I think folks over-engineer things these days... older homes were often built with sturdier lumber and simpler framing methods. Not saying you shouldn't be careful, but don't assume every older roof is hiding a disaster waiting to happen.
Glad you mentioned this—reminds me of when I tackled my grandad's old cabin roof. Built sometime in the 50s, rafters looked sketchy at first glance, but once we got up there, turned out they were solid Douglas fir with barely a knot in sight. Just needed a bit of reinforcement around the chimney area. You're right though, sometimes people get caught up in modern specs and overlook how robust older construction often is. Good to hear your conversion went smoothly... rafters can definitely surprise you.
That's a good point about older rafters holding up better than you'd expect. Douglas fir from that era was often old-growth stuff—denser grain, fewer knots, and way more resilient than the lumber you typically find today. I've seen some 60-year-old rafters that looked rough at first glance but were still stronger than newly milled wood.
One thing to consider with rafters vs. trusses is flexibility, especially if you're thinking about a green roof or heavier roofing materials down the line. Rafters usually allow for easier modifications or reinforcement later on, whereas engineered trusses are designed specifically for certain loads and spans—altering them can get tricky. On the flip side, trusses can simplify construction if you're looking for speed and consistency.
Still, you've definitely nailed it—older constructions often surprise us with how robust they actually are.
Good insights here, especially about the flexibility factor. One thing I'd add from experience dealing with storm damage is that trusses, while consistent, can sometimes fail more dramatically under unexpected loads—like heavy snow or fallen branches—because they're engineered so precisely. Rafters might sag or bend first, giving you a bit of warning before things get critical. Curious if anyone's had experience reinforcing older rafters for heavier loads...how'd that turn out?
I've dealt with reinforcing older rafters a few times, and honestly, it can go either way depending on how solid the original structure is. One house I worked on had rafters from the 1940s—solid wood, but definitely undersized for today's snow loads. We sistered in some new lumber alongside the old rafters and added collar ties to help distribute the load better. It wasn't exactly a quick fix, but it held up great through a couple of nasty winters afterward.
On another project, though, we found some hidden rot halfway through reinforcing...talk about a surprise. Ended up replacing more than planned, but hey, better to find out then than during a heavy snowfall, right? I'd say if you're considering reinforcement, just be prepared for some unexpected detours along the way. Older roofs always seem to have a few secrets hiding up there...
