Good points here—I agree it's crucial to check your existing roof framing first. When I did mine, we ended up reinforcing the rafters with sister beams and adding extra support posts down to load-bearing walls. Definitely not a quick DIY job...took us several weekends and some help from a contractor friend. Also, don't underestimate drainage—make sure you've got proper waterproofing and runoff channels, or you'll regret it next rainy season. Learned that one the hard way.
"Also, don't underestimate drainage—make sure you've got proper waterproofing and runoff channels, or you'll regret it next rainy season. Learned that one the hard way."
Haha, man, I felt that one deep in my bones. If I had a dollar for every homeowner who underestimated drainage, I'd retire early and sip margaritas on a beach somewhere. Seriously though, good on you for bringing that up—it's one of those sneaky problems that doesn't seem urgent until your ceiling starts dripping and you're scrambling for buckets at 2 AM. Been there, done that, got the soaked t-shirt to prove it.
Totally agree with double-checking your existing framing too. Rafters can be great, but they're not always ready to handle the extra load without some TLC. Sistering beams is solid advice, and adding support posts isn't a bad idea either, especially if you're planning something heavier like tiles or slate. I remember one job where the homeowner insisted their old rafters were "fine," only to find out halfway through the project that "fine" meant "rotted and held together by prayers." Let's just say that weekend turned into a month real quick...
That said, don't completely dismiss trusses either. They're not as charming as rafters, sure, but they're engineered precisely for load-bearing and can simplify the whole support issue. If you're starting from scratch or doing a major remodel, trusses can save you a ton of headaches down the road. But if you're set on rafters for the look or attic space, just be ready to roll up your sleeves and spend some quality time reinforcing.
Anyway, sounds like you're already on the right track. Roofing projects always seem easier on paper, don't they? But hey, nothing beats the satisfaction of looking up at your roof afterward and thinking, "Yeah, I did that... and it hasn't collapsed yet."
Reading this thread is giving me flashbacks to my first rainy season as a homeowner. Thought I had everything covered until I noticed water pooling around the foundation—talk about a panic moment. Ended up spending a weekend digging trenches and installing French drains. Definitely learned that drainage isn't something you can just wing. Good call on reinforcing rafters too; better safe than sorry, right?
- Good move on the French drains—been there, done that.
- Rafters definitely offer flexibility, but trusses can handle heavier loads with less fuss.
- Curious if anyone's considered snow load or attic storage when deciding between the two?
I went the truss route mainly due to cost and ease of installation, but honestly, attic storage has been a bit of a letdown. Thought I'd have more usable space up there, but navigating around the diagonal webs is a pain. Snow load wasn't a huge worry in my area, but now I'm wondering... has anyone had to reinforce their trusses later on due to unexpected heavy snowfalls or storage needs? Curious how much hassle that turned out to be.
