3 Advantages of Timber Roof Trusses over Their Structural Steel Alternatives

8 October 2019
 Categories: Construction & Contractors, Blog


Are you looking to build a trussed roof instead of the traditional rafter roof?

When it comes to building with roof trusses, building owners and builders alike have two primary options to choose from – timber and structural steel roof trusses. While both options are designed to serve the same purpose, each has unique pros and cons that should be carefully looked into before making a final choice.

Although roof trusses made from structural steel may seem like a good choice, there are situations when timber roof trusses are considered to be the better choice for building construction projects.

Here is a review of some of the advantages that timber roof trusses have over their steel cousins. 

Timber Roof Trusses Are More Affordable

While steel roof trusses are an excellent option, their relatively high price tag makes them quite unaffordable. Timber roof trusses are the ideal option for people who want to build a trussed roof without incurring the high initial investment that steel roof trusses require. 

Plus, timber trusses lead to greater cost savings because they require less labour to install.

Timber Roof Trusses Offer Better Thermal Performance

As more and more people in Australia and across the world embrace the need to build energy-efficient buildings, the demand for construction materials and products that lead to greater energy savings has been on the rise.

Because steel heats quickly, roofs built with steel trusses require high-quality thermal insulation to minimise heat transfer within the roof structure. Timber roof trusses provide better thermal performance than their steel counterparts because wood is a natural insulator.

Timber Roof Trusses Are a More Environmentally Friendly Choice

When compared to steel roof trusses, timber roof trusses generally require less energy to manufacture. This helps to reduce the strain on the planet's limited energy resources. Plus, the timber used to make roof trusses may even be sourced from managed forest plantations, meaning that tree harvesting is done in a regulated manner. 

On the other hand, the mining of metal ores for the manufacture of steel used to make roof trusses usually causes a lot of disruption on land and natural habitats. This leads to greater environmental impact.

As you can see, there are several reasons to choose to build with timber roof trusses rather than the steel alternatives. Ultimately, the best choice for your project depends on your project requirements, timeline and budget. Discuss your project needs with a timber roof truss supplier to find out if timber roof trusses will work for your project.


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