- Couldn’t agree more.
I get the frustration with trusses, but is the hassle really that much worse than dealing with the extra framing costs and engineering for rafters? Around here, trusses are so standardized that repairs aren’t as bad as they used to be. Plus, for longer spans or complicated rooflines, rafters can get tricky (and expensive) fast. Anyone actually had a rafter job come in close to truss pricing lately? I haven’t seen it in years.
I actually went the rafter route last year when we did our addition, and I was surprised by how close the numbers were—at least at first. The upfront lumber cost for rafters was a bit lower than the truss quote, but then the labor just kept creeping up. Our contractor said it was mostly because of all the custom cuts and extra bracing needed for our weird roofline (it’s a 1950s ranch with a couple of odd angles). By the time it was all said and done, I think we ended up paying a little more than if we’d just gone with trusses.
That said, I totally get why some folks still prefer rafters. We wanted to keep the attic space open for storage, and trusses would’ve made that almost impossible. Plus, my neighbor had a nightmare with a truss repair after a tree fell on his house—took weeks to get the right replacement, and he had to tarp half his living room in the meantime. Maybe things are better now, but that stuck with me.
I guess it really depends on what you’re after. If you want a big open attic or have a simple roof shape, rafters can make sense. But for anything complicated or if you’re in a hurry, trusses seem way less hassle. Around here (midwest), truss prices have gone up but so has everything else... so maybe the gap isn’t as big as it used to be? Either way, I’d say don’t underestimate how much longer rafters can take if your roof isn’t straightforward.
Funny thing is, I thought I’d be saving money by going “old school,” but in the end it was more about getting the space we wanted than anything else. If I had to do it again, I’d probably just go with whatever made the most sense for the layout instead of stressing about which one’s cheaper.
You nailed it—sometimes it’s less about saving a buck and more about getting the space or function you actually want. I’ve seen folks get hung up on the upfront numbers, but those labor hours sneak up fast, especially with anything custom. Your point about attic storage is spot on too... trusses can really kill that option. At the end of the day, matching the roof to your needs just makes sense, even if it costs a bit more.
I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve actually seen a few folks regret skipping trusses just for attic storage.
—true, but sometimes the extra open space isn’t worth the hassle if you’re not using it much. Trusses can make things way simpler structurally, especially on bigger spans. Plus, they’re often engineered to handle snow loads better (at least around here in the Midwest). If you’re not planning to finish the attic, it might be worth weighing the long-term stability over the storage. Just my two cents from crawling around a lot of attics that never get used...“trusses can really kill that option”
Has anyone here factored in how trusses vs. rafters affect things like insulation or ventilation? I get the point about trusses being easier for big spans and snow loads, but I’ve always wondered if that extra webbing makes it trickier to get a good air seal or run thicker insulation. I’ve seen a few older houses where the rafter setup made it way easier to add blown-in cellulose and even run solar wiring later on.
And what about roof design flexibility? I know trusses are usually pre-engineered, but does that limit you if you ever want to add a dormer or skylight down the road? Maybe not a big deal if you’re never planning to touch the attic, but I’ve heard folks regret not having options when they go to sell or remodel.
I’m not saying trusses are bad—just curious if anyone’s run into headaches with energy efficiency or future upgrades because of them. Sometimes it feels like the “simpler” solution up front can box you in later...