Insights
Steel vs timber trusses: which lasts longer?
Roofing · 5 min read
The short answer
Steel. It won’t rot, warp or feed termites — and it’s built to the millimetre.
At a glanceSteelTimber
Termites & rot
Fire resistance
Straight, consistent members
Lighter on walls
Low ongoing treatment
Kenya’s climate is tough on wood.
Humidity at the coast and termites inland weaken timber within years. Galvanised steel isn’t food for insects and doesn’t rot.
Precision from the factory.
Light gauge steel trusses are cut and punched by machine, so every truss matches the drawing and the roof sits true.
Faster on site.
Lightweight members are screwed together on site with no treatment, so the roof goes up in days.
Lower lifetime cost.
No re-treatment, no sagging, no replacing rotten members — the roof keeps its shape for decades.