Benefits of Steel Roof Trusses
Posted on: 14 August 2015
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The roof is one of the key structures of a home, and when you're building a new house, you are in control of what material is used to construct your roof trusses. Trusses are a support structure in a triangular configuration that are typically made from wood, but are also available in steel, which may be a better option for you. Here are some of the reasons that steel roof trusses are superior to wood trusses, so that you can make an informed decision when selecting trusses to buy through someone like Wadsworth Joinery.
Strength
Steel has a higher tensile strength than wood, and is a stronger material overall. Tensile strength refers to the amount of stress that a material can withstand before it breaks apart, and steel is superior to wood in that respect. Steel also has a high weight-to-strength ratio, because it is lightweight yet still retains a high amount of strength. Steel is also more durable than wood because it doesn't fade, yellow, swell with moisture, crack or split. Steel isn't susceptible to termites, which can degrade wood trusses and cause them to fail. Steel also has a high resistance to fire and extremes of weather, and if you select galvanised steel that is hot-dipped in liquid zinc for protection against corrosion, you are extending the longevity of your roof trusses.
Ease of installation
Steel trusses are lighter to transport than wood trusses, which also makes them much easier to install at the work site. This can result in reduced labour costs for your housing construction. According to Roof Truss Design, steel roof trusses weigh 60 percent less than wood trusses, which means you need less steel to build your trusses than if you chuse wood.
Recyclable
Unlike wood roof trusses, steel roof trusses are fully recyclable, which is beneficial both when you are buying your trusses and when your trusses need replacing. For example, building contractors can purchase recycled steel roof trusses that can save you money compared to buying new trusses. When your trusses need replacing, the steel is taken to a recycling facility for reuse, instead of being dumped in a landfill. Wood doesn't have the same level of recyclability, and unlike steel trusses, wood trusses are treated with chemicals to make them more dense and to increase their longevity. According to Beyond Pesticides, these chemicals include creosote, arsenic and pentachlorophenol, all of which have been shown in studies to contribute to cancer. This means that unlike steel trusses, wood trusses contribute to contaminating the air quality.