![]() However, if you must do it yourself, consider the following important factors It’s best to let a structural engineer pick your wooden rafters. Therefore, a steel truss is more likely to crumble under its weight than a wooden truss.įactors to Consider When Choosing Wooden Rafters Strong and durable: Did you know wood outperforms steel in breaking length? This means wood supports its weight better than steel.Moreover, its high strength-to-weight ratio permits long spans for beautiful open spaces. You can easily connect it to wooden components or roof materials, like glulam (laminated lumber) or steel beams. Flexible and versatile: Wood is a flexible and highly versatile construction material.For instance, scientific studies show that steel roof framing collapses faster than wood until you reach the critical burning temperature. Fire resistance: There’s a common misconception that metal is superior to wood when it comes to fire resistance.The acoustic properties also reduce echo in living areas. Therefore, wooden rafters make sense if you wish to reduce indoor noise levels. Sound absorption: Wood absorbs sound instead of reflecting or amplifying it.Moreover, processing wood rafters consumes less energy. Unfortunately, you can’t say the same about steel. Indeed, 50% of dried lumber comprises carbon safely tucked away from the environment. Eco-Friendly: Wood is a natural carbon sink, the perfect storage for excess carbon.This is critical in metal roofing and other roofs that overheat in sunny weather as it lowers energy bills. Energy Efficient: Wood offers excellent thermal resistance, providing superior insulation compared to steel.Thus you don’t require heavy machinery to hoist the rafters onto the roof. Secondly, wooden rafters are readily available, minimizing transportation costs. ![]() Economical: Wooden rafters are way more economical than metal rafters.Here are a few reasons you should pick wood rafters over other materials. It extends past the eaves to hide the gutter’s end and doubles as a decorative element.Īlthough steel is a popular alternative, wooden rafters stand out for many reasons. Indeed, the fascia board on the gable end is sometimes called a barge rafter. Barge rafters: A barge rafter is an outermost rafter at the gable end that forms the roof overhang.They are installed 45 degrees relative to the ridge board, forming a diagonal angle that gives hip roofs their distinctive shape. Hip rafter: Hip rafters are exclusive to hip roofs or hip roof variants, such as mansard roofs.However, you can also find it where two gable roofs intersect. It’s mainly found in hip roofs and located where two faces of the roof coincide. Valley rafters: A valley rafter is the main supporting structure directly under a roof valley.However, not all trusses feature auxiliary rafters. Auxilliary rafters: Auxilliary rafters strengthen the principal rafter in a truss.More importantly, they are set at right angles to the wall plate and are sometimes called intermediate rafters. Common rafter sizes increase as you approach the center of the house to define the pitch. Common rafters: The common rafter is a shorter lumber piece that runs between the principal rafter and the bottom chord to define the roof slope.They run diagonally from the apex of the roof to the wall plate and are solely responsible for supporting the roof purlins. Principal rafters: Principal rafters are the longest rafters on any roof. ![]() However, the roof may include various other rafter types depending on the shape and type. The principal rafter and common rafters are the main rafter types. Roof rafters work alongside roof joists, purlins, and roof truss members, especially the top and bottom chords, webs, and chords, to form the complete roof frame. Traditionally known as stick framing, they are critical framing elements without which the roof comes apart. Rafters are the vertical roof frame members running from the ridge to the wall plate, downslope perimeter, or roof eave. However, hardwoods like oak are wonderful options for heavy-load applications. Moreover, all three are resistant to water and weather elements. The three softwoods provide hard, strong, and durable timber. This applies to both on-site and pre-fabricated roof trusses. ![]() Pine, spruce, and Douglas fir are the most common roof rafter materials. So, this guide explains what makes good rafter lumber and explores the best wood types for roof rafters. Moreover, wood is energy-efficient, readily available, and more cost-effective than alternative materials like steel. Timber trusses are strong, durable, and beautiful. More than 90% of residential roof trusses are made of wood.
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