A timber truss roof is traditionally of triangular shape with straight beams of timber connected from end to end in order to distribute the weight of the roof away from the exterior walls. The job of the truss is to form the structure for the roof.
A roof is one of the most critical parts of a building’s design and construction. It is after all the centerpiece that supports the entire building and protects the interior from the forces of nature. A roof also eats up a major portion of a building’s construction budget. It cannot be emphasized enough how important it is that the roof of your building should be strong and durable. Timber trusses are a popular option for roof designing and construction.
Keep reading for some of the top reasons timber trusses are so popular.
1. Offers greater flexibility
Timber trusses have a much longer span than metal trusses that allow the builder to have a large interior space under a single roof. The classic triangular shape of a timber truss creates huge open spaces inside. The open space is then designed to form different sized rooms that make up the house. This gives the house’s architect much greater flexibility in designing the indoors than a metal truss gives.
2. Light-weight
A timber truss roof requires a complex architectural design that is possible only in a factory. Therefore, transportation of the timber truss roof is arranged from the place of manufacture to the construction site. The lightweight nature of the timber truss proof makes for easy portability of the roof. Moreover, unlike installation of metal trusses, timber trusses do not require any heavy machinery for lifting it up and positioning. Timber trusses are easily handled by even the most basic of construction machinery with some support from the construction workers.
3. Eco-friendly
Timber trusses are a step towards saving the environment and compensating for your carbon footprint. Timber consumes much less energy in processing and as a result causes lesser pollution as compared to the manufacturing process of steel trusses. Moreover, timber trusses are smaller in dimension such that they create shapes that are more efficient so that construction of the rest of the building’s components requires lesser resources. You will also feel proud to be using a renewable natural resource that makes your house eco-friendly while setting an example of sustainable development in your community.
4. Versatile designs
One of the best things about timber trusses is that they can be adapted and modified to fit well with almost any kind of design that you imagine for your house. Timber itself comes in various shades and gradients that you can choose for the look of the trusses. Moreover, as compared to steel trusses, the designs of timber trusses are more flexible to suit each individual’s preferences. You can choose a mixture of both timber and metal truss design for your house by linking timber trusses with metal trusses to get a stronger and more versatile roof design.
5. Aesthetically appealing
Timber trusses are the more traditional form of roof construction and are more suitable for residential buildings than modern day high-rise office structures. A roof designed from timber trusses is much more aesthetically appealing and is often used in classic buildings such as churches. It also gives the house a touch of old-world charm which making the interiors cozy. The more artistically inclined homeowners also prefer to have exposed timber trusses in certain rooms to give their home a more rustic and natural look. Sometimes, the timber trusses left in their natural state manage to achieve a very high visual impact.
6. Cost
Timber trusses have an unquestionable advantage over steel trusses when it comes to cost. Not only will the material itself cost you much less than steel but you will also be able to save some money on installation expenses. Since the timber trusses assembly is not done on the construction site, you will not have to arrange for storage space. Moreover, you will also save expenses on labor and machinery cost that is required to install the timber truss roof.
7. Strength
Timber is one of the strongest materials that you can use for the construction of your house. It is also naturally non-corrosive and will, therefore, be immune from rust and corrosion that steel trusses will be subject to. Timber provides adequate strength and support to the building’s overall design. The fact that assembly of a timber truss roof takes place at the factory itself also ensures that the design and construction is without compromise.
8. Availability
Timber trusses have been around for a much longer time than metal trusses have. The machinery for cutting, shaping and designing of the timber trusses has also undergone a lot of technological innovation. While steel trusses are generally supplied by big construction suppliers only, a timber truss will be available with all the local construction material suppliers as well so that availability of timber trusses will never be an issue.
Wrapping Up
This pretty much explains the advantages of the timber trusses. They are durable, flexible and versatile enough to handle all your needs and requirements.
