Man, you nailed it with the “Pandora’s box” analogy. I’ve seen too many folks think they can just snip a web here or there—next thing you know, you’re chasing cracks and sags for years. I’ve had the most luck working with truss manufacturers on custom orders when I know mechanicals are coming in. Sometimes they’ll spec out a chase or at least beef up certain webs so you can run stuff through without compromising anything. Not cheap, but way better than dealing with a droopy roof later. Those pancake vents do exist, but honestly, I’ve only used them in tight attic retrofits—kinda feels like putting a band-aid on a bigger problem. Gable wall venting isn’t pretty, but sometimes it’s the only way that doesn’t involve a structural headache.
Sometimes they’ll spec out a chase or at least beef up certain webs so you can run stuff through without compromising anything. Not cheap, but way better than dealing with a droopy roof later.
Curious if you’ve ever had issues with inspectors pushing back on those custom truss mods? I’ve had a couple projects where even with stamped drawings, the local guy wanted extra calcs. Also, do you find the upfront cost worth it long-term, or does it just depend on the building type?
Curious if you’ve ever had issues with inspectors pushing back on those custom truss mods? I’ve had a couple projects where even with stamped drawings, the local guy wanted extra calcs.
Yeah, that’s definitely a thing. Even with stamped drawings, I’ve run into inspectors who want to see more math or details—especially if it’s a smaller town or they’re not used to seeing custom truss work. Sometimes it feels like they just want to cover themselves in case anything goes sideways down the road. I get it, but man, it can slow things up.
As for whether the upfront cost is worth it, I’d say most of the time, yeah, especially if you’re running a lot of mechanicals or need special chases. It’s not cheap, but trying to retrofit later is usually way more of a pain (and can get pricey fast). Had one job where the owner tried to save by skipping the beefed-up webs and then needed to add HVAC after the fact... ended up cutting and reinforcing in place, which was a total headache and probably cost more in labor than just doing it right from the start.
That said, on simpler builds—like basic ranches or garages—I’ve seen folks get away with standard trusses and minimal mods without any issues. Depends a lot on what you’re planning to run through there and how picky your local inspector is. Some are super by-the-book, others are more flexible if you show them everything’s engineered.
Long story short: upfront cost stings, but I’d rather deal with that than have a sagging roof or a bunch of patchwork fixes later. And yeah, expect at least one round of “prove it” from the inspector... seems like part of the process these days.
- Had a similar run-in with our inspector when we did the addition last year. Even though the truss company gave us stamped plans, he wanted extra calcs for the attic storage area. Felt like overkill, but I get why they’re cautious.
- Honestly, I was skeptical about paying more for custom trusses. The upfront quote made me wince. But after seeing how much space we got for ductwork and wiring, I’m glad we didn’t cheap out. Would’ve been a nightmare to try and squeeze stuff in later.
- On the flip side, my neighbor just did a basic garage with standard trusses—no issues, no questions from the inspector. Guess it really depends on what you’re building and who’s checking it.
- Still not convinced it’s always worth the extra money unless you really need the flexibility. If I was doing a simple roof again, I’d probably stick with standard rafters or trusses and avoid the hassle.
- Inspectors seem to have their own “style” too... some are chill, some want every number double-checked. Just part of the process, I guess.
I get the argument for sticking with standard rafters or trusses if you’re just doing a basic roof, but I’ve seen too many folks regret not thinking ahead. Even on smaller projects, you never know when you’ll want to run extra wiring or add insulation later. Custom trusses felt like a pain (and yeah, the price hurts), but the flexibility saved us headaches down the line. Inspectors can be unpredictable, but I’d rather deal with some extra paperwork than tear out drywall because I can’t fit a new vent.
