I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve actually seen some newer truss systems that are designed with insulation and ventilation in mind—raised heel trusses, for example, make it a lot easier to get full-depth insulation right out to the eaves. The webbing can be a pain for running stuff, sure, but with a little planning up front, it’s not always as limiting as folks think. As for dormers or skylights, yeah, you’re more locked in, but I’ve seen truss modifications done (with an engineer’s blessing) that worked out fine. It’s definitely a tradeoff, but I wouldn’t say trusses always box you in.
Yeah, I’ve wrangled my fair share of trusses—sometimes I think they’re like a giant game of Tetris, especially when the HVAC guy shows up late and wants to snake ductwork everywhere. Ever had a project where you needed to add a last-minute skylight and had to call in the engineer for a truss mod? Those always make for a fun day... Curious if anyone’s tried running plumbing vents through a truss roof—did it end up being more trouble than it was worth?
Running plumbing vents through trusses? Man, that’s always a bit of a circus. I’ve seen folks try to snake them through the webs, but unless you’re lucky with the layout, you end up with more headaches than solutions. Had one job where the plumber cut a little too much out of a web—let’s just say the engineer was not amused. Personally, I’d rather deal with a cranky roofer than mess with truss mods for venting. Sometimes it’s just not worth the hassle...
Yeah, trusses and plumbing vents just don’t play nice together. I’ve seen more damage from folks hacking into webs than from any storm I’ve patched up. Once you start cutting, you’re messing with the whole load path—bad news if you get heavy snow or wind. Rafters give you a bit more wiggle room for running vents, but then you’re trading off speed and cost. Honestly, unless the truss layout is perfect, I’d avoid modifying them at all. Too much risk for not a lot of gain.
I’ve run into this exact headache a couple times. The last house I worked on had pre-fab trusses, and the plumber just assumed he could notch a web to get the vent through. Next thing you know, there’s a visible sag in the roofline after a rough winter. I get why folks want to make it work—trusses are fast and cheaper up front—but man, once you start cutting, it’s like opening Pandora’s box.
On the other hand, I’ve got friends who swear by stick-built rafters for remodels, especially if they know they’ll need to run new ductwork or vents later. The flexibility is nice, but I remember it took way longer and cost more in labor when we did my brother’s garage. Plus, the inspector was all over us about collar ties and hurricane clips, so it wasn’t exactly simple.
I’m curious if anyone’s found a good workaround for running vents with trusses that doesn’t involve hacking them up? I’ve heard about offsetting the vent runs or using those flat “pancake” vents, but I haven’t seen them in person. Also, does anyone know if newer truss designs are getting any better about leaving space for mechanicals? Seems like with all the new codes and energy requirements, there’d be more thought put into this stuff.
For what it’s worth, my current place has a low-slope roof with trusses, and I had to get creative with venting—ended up running most of it out the gable wall instead of through the roof. Not ideal, but at least I didn’t have to mess with the structure. Anyone else tried something similar or found a clever way around this?