Are you among those who will build their roof in the future?
While going about building a new home, likely you’ll have to make a very essential selection of roofing systems. Besides the structure that holds the top portion of the house in place- it has roofing material itself too; shingles, metal, etc.
In the past, wood trusses might have been the first option. But the Steel Trusses also are emerging into the most active structures today.
Thus we figured to give an exhaustive run-through of the merits and drawbacks of the Steel and Wood Roof Trusses to get to the gist of what is the most suitable for your exact case.
What Are Steel Trusses?
Before we dive into the specifics of steel versus wood, let’s understand the basic concept. Steel Roof Trusses are, generally, prefabricated triangular constructions made of wood or metallic frames. They act like beams, spanning across the exterior walls of your home and providing support for the roof deck and ultimately the entire roofing system.
Why Consider Steel Trusses?
Steel trusses offer several advantages over their wooden counterparts:
- Superior Strength and Durability: Steel being more durable is the reason it is used in framing buildings over wood. It permits steel trusses to bear out bigger loads and wider expenses without having any beam dropping or wobbling. This is particularly important when it comes to the roof design for large sizes or complex types or areas with prevalent snow, wind and ice loads.
- Fire Resistance: When building structures in regions of frequent wildfires, steel is a better alternative seeing that its non-combustible properties make it safer for use in such cases.
- Dimensional Stability: Steel trusses are less prone to weather-related damages including swelling, shrinking and bending often found on Wood Trusses. It means these metal roofs are less likely to warp or twist during their entire lifespan. The latter can be a cause of problems with roofing.
- Low Maintenance: The steel trusses require less- ongoing maintenance as compared to wood trusses. They will never decay, they are not food to a termite, and they will have no mouldy problems.
- Lightweight: Steel trusses are lighter than wood trusses of comparable strength. This makes them easier to transport and install, potentially reducing labour costs.
- Environmentally Friendly: Steel trusses can be recycled at the end of their lifespan, making them a more sustainable option.
Drawbacks of Steel Trusses
While steel trusses offer numerous benefits, they also come with some downsides:
- Higher Cost: With regards to costs, steel trusses are most often more expensive in the short-run rather than wood trusses.
- Installation Expertise: The steel trusses installation in contrast to the wood trusses installation calls for a higher degree or level of expertise.
- Thermal Conductivity: The heat conduction of steel is greater than that of wood. This, however, is more of a challenge in hot climates than in cold ones, as it may transfer heat to your indoor environment. The right insulation is entering the problem in the first place.
Why Consider Wood Trusses?
Wood trusses remain a popular choice for several reasons:
- Cost-Effective: Timber trusses are usually cheaper than their steel.
- Readily Available: Locally available wood is a common material throughout most areas, hence it is easily accessible.
- Ease of Installation: Wood trusses are generally easier for experienced builders to install compared to steel trusses.
Drawbacks of Wood Trusses
While wood trusses offer a budget-friendly option, they do have some limitations:
- Lower Strength and Durability: Low in tensile strength, wood trusses are also prone to warping, sags, and cracking. It is more critical when the environment is humid or there are insect infestations.
- Fire Risk: Wood is a combustible material, increasing the fire risk of your home.
- Higher Maintenance: Timber Trusses can require seasonal treatment in order to prevent damages due to rot and insects which is an added cost to operational expenses.
How To Choose The Right Truss for Your Needs?
Now that you understand the pros and cons of both steel and wood trusses, it’s time to decide which option is best for your specific project.
The following are some key factors to consider:
- Budget: For instance, a steel truss’s initial price is higher than that of a wooden truss, and a wooden one is relatively figuratively cheaper.
- Roof Design: The complicated forms of roofs which have vast or steeply sloping pitches would find the exceptional strength of steel trusses helpful.
- Local Building Codes: Certain building codes may have particular strength requirements; also there are a number of fire rating requirements for trusses.
- Climate: For regions with extensive temperatures, extra heating insulation can be embedded with steel trusses to deal with the heat exchange.
- Your Priorities: If your main concerns are sustainability of the structure for the long term, safety against fire and minimal maintenance, steel trusses may not be the most cost-friendly, but are good enough for this reason. If budget is a major issue and the nature of the design you decorate is simple, then you must consider wood trusses as a possible option.
A Few Additional Factors To Consider For Your Proof
Here we have enlisted some additional factors to keep in mind:
- Warranty: As such, the representatives from Steel Manufacturers can be also allowed to provide guarantees with regard to their products. Do not forget to check warranty terms when buying the product that you like.
- Lead Time: Steel trusses could have a longer lead time than wood trusses as alternatives such as balloon framing or timber framing might not fit the needs of the construction project which requires custom fabrication. Taking that aspect into account you should plan your timeline.
- Environmental Impact: If you’re environmentally conscious, you can reuse steel trusses at the end of their lifetime and the wood truss will not be as effective as it was to use it the second time.
Looking For A Professional Steel Roof Truss Installer?
Well, as seen in the above blog, Steel Roof Truss offers numerous advantages. And now if you are looking for a professional Steel Roof Trusses Suppliers , you can reach out to Nexus Steel. To construct roofs of any size or shape, they provide prefabricated trusses with customised lengths that are perfect for all designated heights.