When building a new home, you have plenty of things to consider, from the layout of the home to the materials you want to use. Some of the most crucial decisions when constructing a building are those that can affect its structural integrity and durability.
The roof is an important part of your house and must be solid enough to protect it from the weather and other elements. Roof trusses form the base of your roofing and are traditionally made of wood. However, steel is becoming a popular alternative to timber, and we examine some reasons why in this post.
What Are Roof Trusses?
Roof trusses are wood or steel beams that form a base for your roofing material, whether it be steel, tile or slate. The beams fit together with bolts to create a frame for the roof. An engineer or contractor must carefully calculate the weight distribution to decide how to place the trusses so that the roofing is fully supported.
Roof trusses have been around for millennia, and almost every major civilisation has used this design to support the roofs of their dwellings.
Steel Trusses Vs. Wood Trusses
Timber trusses, and timber house framing, in general, is the most popular choice for houses because it is highly affordable. While timber is cheaper than steel, it is susceptible to pests, weather, and water damage.
3 Benefits of Steel Roof Trusses
Here are three key benefits of choosing steel roof trusses for your home:
Steel is not affected by pests
As mentioned earlier, wood can be vulnerable to damage from pests like termites, white ants or carpenter bees. Steel is completely immune to these hazards and doesn’t need treatment against them.
Steel trusses are fire-resistant
While wood trusses may potentially burn and cause the roof to collapse, it takes much higher heat to affect the integrity of steel trusses, making your house safer in case of a fire.
Steel has a high strength-to-weight ratio
Steel trusses are ideal for large buildings, as they can make very durable roof framing without weighing down the structure.
Some Disadvantages of Steel Roof Trusses
While steel offers many benefits to building, there are some downsides as well. For example, steel needs to be protected against corrosion. Steel can be galvanised to resist damage, but if the zinc coating is scratched, the steel underneath will be susceptible to rust.
Another disadvantage is that steel trusses cost more than their wood counterparts. If you have a large project or a limited budget, you might want to consider wood over steel, as it can be more economical.
RW Steel – Melbourne’s Leading Supplier of Steel and Steel Products
If you intend to use steel for your new home or commercial building, it’s important to work with a reputable supplier. RW Steel is a leading supplier of steel in and around Melbourne. Whether you need steel beams for your roof trusses or galvanised steel posts for other home improvement projects, we have you covered. Contact us today for a free quote!