Roof framing has undergone a quiet revolution over the past half century. Trusses are gradually replacing the conventional rafters, to the point that nowadays more than 80 percent of new residential ...

Dear Jason: Look for a new contractor. Special designs of roof trusses are available, some not priced much higher than standard trusses, specifically designed for attic storage areas or full rooms.

Many renovated buildings replace wood and masonry structural elements with steel. The replacement of heavy wooden roof and floor joists with the lighter steel open-web bar-truss joists is a common ...