A critical decision in every house or
addition design is whether the roof
will be stick-framed or built using prefabricated
trusses. Sometimes this decision
hinges on factors other than design.
For instance, if the exact plan and profile
can be achieved using either
method, then why not go with the
trusses? Using trusses puts someone else
on the hook for engineering, and it usually
saves money, since trusses require
narrower lumber and let you erect the
frame quickly and with less-skilled labor.
On the other hand, if a remote or congested
site makes placing trusses impractical,
then obviously stick-framing is a
better option.
However, truss-versus-rafter decisions
often hinge at least partly on issues of
design. Here are a few