Stick-Built vs. Truss Construction

A stick-built roof consists of individual rafters, each cut and secured by the builder to form the shape and pitch of the roofline. All roof members are cut and installed on site. The rafters are sloped, attach to the top of the wall framing, and sit on an incline to create the roof grade. A roof truss is typically a triangular assembly made with 2 x 4 or other dimensional lumber used to support a roof. Multiple trusses are used to assemble the framework for a roof.

Image: www.hometips.com Schematic showing anatomy of a roof.

Despite the fact that with stick-built construction, all framing lumber can be purchased locally and delivered quickly, it is generally considered to be more costly than a roof truss system, with a higher variability in quality and a required skill level that increases with the complexity of the design. In many cases, roof trusses have replaced traditional stick framing, saving labor and offering complicated intersecting roof patterns without the need to measure and cut the rafters individually. Using advanced computer modeling, truss builders create designs incorporating required loadings and space-saving shapes with minimal waste. Trusses are manufactured off site to exact specifications, and can be mass produced efficiently, reducing costs, the size of the roofing crew, and delays from errors or changes that occur on stick-built roofs. Truss systems are custom made for a specific job and cannot be altered on site.

Flexibility is the area in which stick-built roofs may have an edge. Although trusses are customized for many types of structures, they may fall short when it comes to complicated roof designs that incorporate numerous dormers, hip, rolling hip, or turret roofs. Stick built also has an advantage in structures that must accommodate attics or cathedral ceilings, as roof trusses can't be modified without compromising their strength.

Photo: Huber Engineered Woods Truss construction is more efficient than stick-built