Roof trusses are popular among builders for a variety of reasons.  For one thing, roof trusses are often up to a third less expensive than building with conventional rafters.  They are also more convenient, particularly since they are constructed at a plant and brought with “just in time” delivery directly to the job site.  However, another reason for roof truss popularity may not be as obvious:  roof trusses allow the popular “open concept” floor plan to be built much more easily than rafter construction.

Open Floor Plan Construction 

Many homeowners today want the open floor plan designs made popular on countless home improvement shows.  Open floor plans allow a much better flow of traffic and unobstructed sight lines, making the entire home look bigger.  Living rooms flow into kitchens and eating areas, allowing families to enjoy their spaces together rather than being enclosed in small, uncomfortable rooms.

However, building an open concept floor plan is another matter.  With traditional rafter construction, the rafters rest on walls which support the weight of the roof and floors above.  This means that several walls inside the home must be “load bearing.”  A load bearing wall is one that supports weight above it, and it cannot be removed or moved without intensive renovation and high costs.  In some cases, older homes simply cannot be made into open concept plans due to the distribution of weight on load-bearing walls.

However, truss roofing makes it much easier to build an open concept plan.  Because trusses rest on the exterior walls of the home, not on the interior walls as rafters do, they can span long distances without support.  Trusses can be constructed that can span entire large living areas without the need for supporting walls or pillars, allowing the builder to construct a true “open concept” plan.  While there are necessarily limits to how far a truss can span without any support, the number of load bearing walls can be greatly reduced or even eliminated.  This means that homeowners have far more options in how their plans are designed and built than they would with rafters.

Along with open concept floor plans, truss roofing also allows other types of construction, such as vaulted ceilings and flat roofing.  Trusses can be designed with built-in attic space for future expansion, or with steeply pitched gable or hip roof designs to give your home the look you want.  There is almost no type of roof that a truss roofing system cannot accommodate!

If you are interested in learning more about truss roofing possibilities, contact the professionals at Stone Truss today.  Serving the San Diego area for decades, Stone Truss is a leading name in quality, affordable truss roofing and flooring solutions.  We can help you with your project, no matter what type of floor plan you want.  Give us a call today to learn more about how we can help you build the home of your dreams at a price you can afford!