Building a New Home? Choose Prefabricated Timber Roof Trusses

6 June 2016
 Categories: Construction & Contractors, Blog


Modern roof trusses are typically made out of prefabricated steel or timber. Timber roof trusses are a popular choice for several new homeowners because of the great benefits that timber material has to offer. Some of the attributes of timber roof trusses that make them a better choice over the steel alternative for new home construction projects include the following:

More eco-friendly

Both steel and timber are considered to be environmentally friendly construction materials because they can be recycled at the end of their lifespan. Even though steel can be fully recycled at an approved metal recycling facility, the recycling process can take up huge amounts of energy as compared to timber, which can be reused without needing any energy input. Because prefabricated steel roof trusses are usually welded together, power tools, like laser cutting machines may be required to detach constituent parts before the steel can be recycled and put into alternative use.

On the other hand, all you need to disassemble the timber parts on your roof trusses are handheld tools, such as a hammer, a crowbar, and a reciprocating saw. Start by using the hammer and crowbar to remove the current roof and then utilise the reciprocating saw to methodically cut through the metal plates holding truss frames in place.

What is more, timber is a natural thermal insulator, meaning that it does not lose or gain heat as quickly as steel does. This attribute makes timber roof trusses a more energy efficient choice for your home.

Visual appeal

Because timber roof trusses offer more aesthetic options than their steel counterparts, a home built with timber roof trusses can achieve a greater range of architectural design possibilities. Unlike steel roof trusses, which can only be painted or given a hot-dip galvanised finish, you have so many finishing options to choose from for your timber roof trusses, including: distressed, planed and sanded, planed but unsanded, chamfered, stained, painted, in addition to so many other finishing preferences.

Speedy construction

Because timber frames used to construct roof trusses are joined together in factory conditions, you can get on with the installation process immediately your trusses are delivered on-site. As timber is typically lighter than steel, it is easier and faster to fix timber roof trusses on the supporting walls with suitable wall plates. By working with prefabricated components, you will be able to save on both time and labour costs.