What is the main reason contractors use pre-built trusses?

The main reason contractors use pre-built trusses is that they are more uniform and designed to meet building codes. Pre-built or manufactured trusses are engineered components that provide consistent quality and structural integrity. This uniformity ensures that each truss within a project performs similarly, which is critical for maintaining the overall strength and stability of the roof or floor systems they help support.

Additionally, these trusses are designed according to specific engineering standards that comply with relevant building codes, providing contractors an assurance that the structures will meet safety and performance requirements. This reliance on manufactured solutions can lead to increased efficiency on the job site, as pre-built trusses can often be installed more quickly than job-built alternatives, saving time and labor costs.

Other options, such as the implication that builders lack the know-how to construct trusses or that building codes outright prohibit job-built trusses, do not reflect the reality of the construction industry. While there are situations where contractors might choose not to build trusses on-site, this is not due to a lack of skill or legal prohibitions, but rather the advantages offered by using pre-manufactured solutions.