Roof Trusses Vs Stick

Robert Wade

I am new to the business, so sorry if this is a dumb question. I just finished remodeling my third home and turned it at a nice profit. But I have always used GCs, although I or my wife were actually the ones watching the trades and making sure everything showed up on time and in sequence. So, we are taking another crack at this.

We are adding a 30x20' long game room on the back of my house, and considering trusses instead of stick. The roof will likely be 20-30' tall at the peak with 10' ceilings inside. I don't really know how to estimate the cost differences and trade-offs though. Can you guys help me understand how much a truss costs versus doing the frame yourself (with skilled labor of course)? I guess the easiest way would be to break it down into something like cost / lineal foot or something.... I mean the cost of lumber is the same, so the real difference is just the truss company's inventory and transportation, right?

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RW

cleveman

Put your location in your profile.

Give the width of the building and the pitch of the roof, for example a 24' wide building with a 6/12 pitch.

You can find the cost of your trusses easily enough. To replace each truss, you will need two rafters and a ceiling joist. It is almost guaranteed that the stick built roof will be less expensive for materials.

The labor is a factor. How much faster is it to frame in the trusses than the rafters? It is faster to stand up the rafters, no doubt, but how much faster?


Other factors include the width of the building (lenth of trusses) and pitch (steep roof equals more truss). How will you get the truss on the building?

Do you need to clear span the interior, or is it possible to have a support wall in the middle of the building? The costs are going to be fairly close, so this is the deciding factor. If you want to span 32', then you won't have much of a choice but to use trusses.

You can also build your own trusses if this isn't complicated enough for you yet. You can also use trusses for your common rafters on a hip roof, and stick build the ends.

Good luck and welcome to the website.

K2

Draw some plans and send it out to bid to your local suppliers and framing contractors. In my area a cut/stick roof requires an engineers stamp, about 400 to 1200 bucks. Trusses require an engineers stamp but is included in the price. We have 3 truss plants hungry for work. I don't think a cut roof could compete here. And then there is the clear span thing.

Adam Miller

As a framing carpenter who offers roof framing. Did trusses today. In some cases stick framing can be considerably cheaper on simple roofs. You start talking about multiple hips and valleys and dormers it is best to stick to the engineered trusses. In BC you cannot build and design your own trusses, they require stamps. Thus the name engineered trusses. You may however stick frame and build your own rafters according to the regional building code.

wallmaxx

I disagree 100%.

When trusses are used on very complex roof systems, it is always suspect at how much "overframing" is required by the framer to complete the roof. So the trusses only complete 65% to 70% of the actual roof and then I am supposed to do all this "fill-in" to finish their roof system? Yeah...that's cool. (????)

No Thanks.

The only time I can't stick part of a roof is when it is a clear span issue. I am considering having a floor system engineered as a ceiling for just such a great room span on an upcoming frame job.

Trusses only make the truss guys money and keep the carpenter talent pool simple.

skyhook

Be a shame to truss build a 6/12 pitch. That could be a nice vaulted T & G ceiling.
For clear spans with living space above, I throw in some red iron I beams.

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cleveman

Wall Max is all over it and he stated it well. Trusses are to carpenters what computerized diagnosis is to auto mechanics.

mike backman

the truss supply company in my area wont place it on the roof "its a liability so I need to get a crane?

skyhook

Plus they are a PITA when you have to work in the attic.

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Cole

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Tulsa's Leader in Outdoor Living Construction | Facebook | Tulsa Pergola Builder | Tulsa Outdoor Kitchens

neolitic

It's fun to listen to this
discussion/argument again,
but the OP clearly identified
himself as a HO-flipper!
I'm calling B/S and pushing the !.

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Put your location in your profile!
(Sorry....it seems there really are dumb questions)

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