Trusses are great for keeping critters out, no argument there. But I’ve had a few headaches when it came time to add extra insulation or run new lines—those webs are like a jungle gym for wires. Still, I’ll take that over chasing squirrels any day.
“those webs are like a jungle gym for wires. Still, I’ll take that over chasing squirrels any day.”
- Not gonna lie, trusses do make running new electrical or HVAC a pain. I’ve seen folks try to snake things through those webs and end up with some pretty creative (read: questionable) solutions.
- On the flip side, rafters give you way more open space if you ever want to finish an attic or just need to get up there for repairs. Less crawling, less cursing.
- As for critters, I’ve inspected plenty of rafter-framed attics with zero animal issues—usually comes down to proper sealing and regular checks, not just the framing style.
- Insulation’s another one. With trusses, you’re often stuck with blown-in because batts don’t fit well around all those chords. Rafters? Way easier to get a good R-value if you’re careful.
- Personally, I’d rather deal with the occasional squirrel than have to cut and patch drywall every time someone wants to add a can light or run a cable. But that’s just me... depends on what headaches you want to avoid.
“I’ve seen folks try to snake things through those webs and end up with some pretty creative (read: questionable) solutions.”
I hear you, but honestly, I’d rather wrestle with a truss maze than deal with a sagging rafter roof after a heavy snow. Trusses might make wiring weird, but they’re solid workhorses—less chance of the roof doing the wave during storm season. Plus, not everyone’s looking to finish their attic... sometimes folks just want a roof that stays put.
Totally agree—trusses are a pain for running anything up there, but I’ll take that over worrying about snow loads. When I built my garage, the truss package was actually cheaper than stick-framing rafters, too. If you’re not finishing the attic, it’s a no-brainer for me.
If you’re not finishing the attic, it’s a no-brainer for me.
Couldn’t agree more—trusses just make sense for garages or sheds where you don’t need that extra headroom. I’ve seen folks wrestle with stick-framing and honestly, unless you’re after a vaulted ceiling or usable attic, it’s usually more hassle than it’s worth. Plus, trusses are engineered for those heavy snow loads, which is huge peace of mind up north. Only downside I’ve run into is trying to snake ductwork or wiring through all those webs... but for most builds, that’s a small tradeoff.