There are many different ways to build a house, which is why the UK has an eclectic mix of architecture, from black and white tudor-style buildings and symmetrical Georgian homes to quaint country cottages and terraced Victorian two-up, two-down houses.
When it comes to new homes, aside from thinking about what architectural style the house will adopt, builders need to choose between different roof constructions for the property.
The two main choices are trusses or loose timbers. To find out the benefits of using trussed rafters in housebuilding, read on.
Can be used with different types of construction
One of the main advantages of using trussed rafters is they can be used in a variety of constructions, including steel frame, masonry or timber frame properties.
It can, therefore, be fitted in different types of properties, including commercial buildings, care homes, residential properties, and outbuildings.
Quicker to fit
Roof trusses, which were introduced in the 1960s to speed up homebuilding, are, indeed, fast to put up.
As they are prefabricated, being made in a factory and delivered to the site, less time on the construction area is required. This means fewer labourers are needed, saving developers money, as well as time.
Loose timber rafters, on the other hand, are built on site, which makes them a more time-consuming and costly alternative.
They also tend to generate more waste, as they have to be cut down to size. Therefore, lots of material typically does not get used, which means developers have to pay for wood they do not need. This waste is not only bad for the environment, but can dramatically increase the cost of the roof.
Can be customised
Roof trusses can also be customised to suit specific requirements from developers. For instance, they can be designed to fit the span, pitch and load bearing capacity of a roof.
This makes them a good choice for roofs with a complex design, such as a vaulted, dormer attic, open jack, gambrel, or parallel chord structure. Any unusual dimensions can be catered for with trussed rafters, which is why this way of building a roof has quickly grown in popularity over the last few decades.
Engineers create the structural design that will work with the building, while designers use 3D modelling software to make sure the trussed rafters will fit perfectly in the space. They are then manufactured in the factory, while work continues to build other parts of the property, before being added to the structure on site.
This process means the design is bespoke and made to complement the overall aesthetic of the building, as well as to be structurally sound.
Lightweight and strong
The timber used in the framework is lightweight, so they do not add too much pressure on to the foundations of the property.
At the same time, they are strong, as its design is specifically engineered. Therefore, this type of roof is likely to last much longer and span a bigger dimension than loose timbers, which were traditionally used for stick-framed architecture and are better suited for smaller spaces, such as sheds or lean-tos.
These typically need load bearing supports to be fitted along its length when used for larger areas.
Environmentally friendly
As roof trusses are made out of timber, they are very environmentally friendly. Timber is the only renewable building resource, which means trussed rafters have a low impact on the environment in both their manufacturing and installation.
This is particularly the case when using UK grown timber, as trees are replanted after they have been chopped down. This means the carbon dioxide in the air can still be absorbed and oxygen produced. Capturing these emissions helps to control climate change and prevent global temperatures from rising too quickly.
Felling trees for timber can actually have a positive impact on the environment, as the carbon dioxide that has been absorbed by the tree remains within it.
“If that timber is used to build a house, the wood used will continue to lock up CO2, storing those emissions for as long as the house stands,” Forestry And Land explains.
Planting new trees in the same place means another cycle of carbon dioxide absorption can begin, extracting even more emissions from the atmosphere.
GreenSpec also supports the use of timber as a building material, saying it “stimulates the expansion of managed forests to absorb CO2”.
This means it helps both the economy and the environment, making it far more favourable than other common building materials, such as glass, steel, plastics and aluminium.