When you frame a pitched roof, you choose between two systems: rafters (stick framing) and trusses. The decision shapes the whole roof framing plan — what members appear, where they bear, and how much of the structure is engineered off site. This article compares them. For the wider context, see the roof framing plan guide.
Rafters (stick framing)
Rafters are individual sloping members cut and assembled on site. They typically run from the bearing walls up to a ridge, often with internal support (a ridge beam or load-bearing wall). On a framing plan:
- Individual rafters at a regular spacing, running to the ridge.
- Hip and valley lines where roof planes meet (see gable vs. hip roofs).
- More on-site labour and cutting, but flexibility for vaulted or irregular ceilings.
Trusses
Trusses are pre-engineered, triangulated assemblies fabricated off site and craned or lifted into place. Each truss spans wall to wall, usually needing little or no internal support. On a framing plan:
- Repeated trusses at a set spacing, labelled by truss type.
- Clear spans that free up the floor plan below.
- Fast installation, with the structural design done by the truss supplier.
Trade-offs
| Rafters | Trusses | |
|---|---|---|
| Made | On site | Off site, pre-engineered |
| Span | Shorter; may need internal support | Long, wall to wall |
| Install speed | Slower | Faster |
| Ceiling | Allows vaulted / open | Usually flat (webs fill the attic) |
| Engineering | Designed for the project | Designed by supplier |
On the framing plan
Either way, the plan still communicates the universals of any framing plan: member direction and spacing, the bearing walls and beams, and openings. The difference is whether you are showing individual rafters with a ridge and hips, or a repeated run of trusses with a type callout.
A note on the tool
Both rafters and trusses are engineered systems — rafter sizing by an engineer, trusses by the supplier's design. Framing Plan suits the plan-view layout (footprint, bearing, openings, annotation) and flat roofs framed like a floor. It does not produce engineered rafter or truss designs.
Keep it preliminary
Use a preliminary plan to communicate which system and layout you intend. The rafter sizes, truss design, and connections must be confirmed by a qualified engineer or truss supplier for your project and local code.
Try it
For plan-view layout or a flat roof, open the framing studio, or read gable vs. hip roof framing next.