Hi guys,

As you all may have noticed, more new houses nowadays are using steel roof truss instead of the conventional timber trusses. Can anyone share what's the pros & cons of this.

From what I can gather, Steel truss is lightweight, plus easy & fast installation. But i've also heard that steel trusses may be a bit noisy - metal to metal contact, especially during strong winds, or at during cold nights/ hot day due to thermal expansion??
Anyone can confirm this?

What about the costs of the timber vs. steel truss?

basically, both systems are equally good. timber roof trusses were widely used coz the raw material is readily available. to use timber as structural element such as roof, certain strength is required where they are classified into many grade...in technical term called strength group...such as SG 1, SG 2, SG3 and so on....unfortunately, high quality timber is hard to find now...furthermore, those timber need to be treated with chemical to protect them from termite attack. the chemical used for the treatment is very harmful to our health.

to overcome all this problems, steel roof truss is introduced into the market. basically, they are more expensive compare to timber trusses but they are more durable and reliable. the quality of these trusses are good coz they are manufactured in an controlled enviroment, their strength is consistant and do not vary as the timber product. most of the steel trusses are coated with protective layer to prevent rust only and do not need to be chemically treated.

The worst nightmare with timber truss is termites. Although your developer claim it to be chemically treated, you will never know.

But it does look nicer and classic than steel trusses.

well first of all steel roof truss is mostly design by engineer and using software too....for timber arrr...very hard to say but depending on developer. some of the case just layman work.....(which is bad). But seriously i do see a bad design in steel roof truss system in 1mil ++ sell value property.... i don't think the roof truss design even pass in the design software....

steel roof truss
pro
better fire rating
better load carrier (if the design is okie)
even layman can do it....
normally no joint in between expect your house span too long

con
if near to seaside (within 10km2 i think ), material use must be better.
sustain to rust.

timber roof truss
pro
cheaper
dont rust

con
pest LOL....
quality of installation depend skill of worker you employ...
normally joining will be use.

have to actually evaluate on the material and design on both before can say which one is good

This post has been edited by hoahmaru56: Jul 10 2009, 03:33 AM

Any concern on lightning for steel truss? I remember I read it somewhere where stated that is a con for steel truss. Can anyone verify that?

I doubt steel roof truss is more expensive than timber, more like the other way around. I'm using timber and my contractor is constantly complaining on the escalating cost of timber. Another con of timber truss is your roof would bow over time while steel would remains straight.

Hi,

I am looking for candidates with sales or project experience dealing in roof trusses or other construction materials or equipment for a Regional Market development position covering China, Middle East, Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia. Anyone interested or knows of anyone who is, please email your updated cv asap. The company is headquatered in Europe.

Thank you and best wishes,

Job for Trusses & Co

my house car porch roof is steel truss, very strong n durable, no noticeable noise even strong wind becos the bottom of the roof is covered by plaster ceiling. Timber if u use cengal will defenitely cost you many many times more than steel truss.

I prefer steel truss....lightweight, non-combustible, etc..

Helllo, my office looking the candidates (designer) also for design steel roof truss also. We are company doing the design + supply + install light weight steel truss in Malaysia. Anyone interested can PM me. Thanks

woeei....wrong thread lerhh

my father was once have a friend doing Z-channel roof truss
ordinary roof truss only uses C-Channel

the machine is fabricated to give even better support
if got into the real hole, very rigid and strudy

and the most important thing, cheap

Steel truss is the way to go.
Steel truss offers higher strength-to-weight ratio as compared to timber. Materials used for roof truss are of cold formed sections which has been galvanised. Thus, provide the required protection to the steel. Steel will not rot and is immune to termites, etc. These sections are lightweight and strong and can have a larger span (as compared to timber truss). It therefore reduces the no. of roof beams to support the truss members which can sometimes is good. There will be lesser exposed beams.The steel truss stays straight and does not sag if properly designed. Unlike timber.

Using steel truss in place of timber is also environmentally friendly. Steel members can be recycle. Steel members does not need to be treated with chemicals, pesticides or preservatives.Helps to preserves the trees...

Even roof truss companies like Pryda (Australian company) which started as a timber roof truss specialist is now going into steel roof truss.

Hi all. steel truss is good in terms of quality control as compare to timber. But as we read from recent newspaper that many roof collapsed are from light weight roof truss. Therefore, it is the responsible of the designer to foresee the construction problem and the workmanship.

Anyone here working as steel truss contractor? What software are u all using?