Preparing Your Home for Retirement

Constructing a roof is made easier and quicker by the fact that you can buy ready-made roof trusses. The only work remaining is to secure them on top of your walls and place a roofing material. That said, here are some important things you need to know:

What Are Roof Trusses?

Roof trusses comprise triangular-shaped beams that are used to support the roof of most structures; you can also attach ceiling material on the lower side. Mostly, these beams are made of timber, but you can also come across metallic roof trusses. The material you end up choosing depends on your roofing needs and requirements.

Don't Get Confused When You Come Across Rafters

Closely related to roof trusses are rafters. When you look closely, you will realise that rafters don't have a triangular web-like design inside a triangular frame like roof trusses; this is the main distinctive feature. You can also come across other shapes and designs like imperfect semicircles. Regardless, they will have edges similar to triangles.

The lack of a triangular web means that rafters might not be as stable as roof trusses, so don't use them if you plan on using heavy roofing material or placing heavy equipment on your roof.

When choosing roof trusses, make a point of finding out how the beams are joined. If you have heavy roofing material, choose bolted joints; these can easily withstand heavy roofs and will last longer. Other joints you may come across are nailed and adhesive joints; these are suitable for lighter roofing materials. They are even cheaper than bolted joint roof trusses.

Why Are Roof Trusses Popular?

• Precision — Since roof trusses are manufactured using computers, you can expect precision in balance, measurements and stability. This means that your roofing support system will be free of human error, hence will last longer.
• Ease of use — as indicated above, roof trusses are easy to use. You only need to purchase them from a roof truss manufacturer, have them transported to the construction site and then installed; no major on-site work is required.

Protect The Roof Trusses

When the roof trusses get to the construction site, ensure that they are stored in an environment that is free of moisture. Of course, depending on the size of the structure, one day might not be enough to install the roof trusses; ensure you store them correctly to protect them from damage. Let your construction specialist guide you on this because they have experience.