Roof Truss Replacement
Timber vs Light Steel Trusses (2026)

What a roof truss does

A truss is the triangulated frame that holds the roof up. Rows of trusses sit on the walls or beams, battens run across them, and the tiles or metal sheets sit on the battens. The truss carries the weight of the roof covering and passes it down to the walls. When one member fails, the load shifts to its neighbours, which is why a sagging roof line is a sign to act on, not a cosmetic problem.

Most older Malaysian terraces have timber trusses. ClickBina's Kuala Lumpur renovation guide notes that older terraces may have timber roof trusses that need inspection for termite damage and rot, and that roof repairs should be dealt with before interior work begins.

Signs your trusses need attention

• A roof ridge or roof line that dips or waves when you look along it from the street.
• Termite mud tunnels on timbers in the roof space, or timber that sounds hollow or crumbles when pressed.
• Cracked or sagging ceiling boards under the roof, especially near the middle of a span.
• Dark, soft or mouldy timber where a roof leak has been dripping for years.
• Tiles slipping or gaps opening at the ridge as the frame moves.

Look from below with a torch, and do not walk on timbers you suspect are damaged. ClickBina's termite damage repair guide is clear that termites in roof trusses and battens are a structural matter that needs assessment before carpentry.

Repair, strengthen or replace?

Before any repair, the termites have to be dealt with. New timber fixed next to an active colony is simply new food; see the termite inspection guide.

Timber vs light steel trusses

Light steel is not automatically better for every roof. It removes the termite risk from the roof frame, but the house still needs termite protection for doors, floors and cabinets, and the steel must be protected where it meets walls and where leaks could sit on it.

Who designs the new frame

A roof frame is structure. Its members are sized for the span, the pitch and the weight of the covering, and for how it is fixed to the walls. A replacement should be designed, either by a professional engineer or by the truss supplier's own engineers, with drawings that show member sizes and fixings. Ask for these drawings before work starts, and keep them.

ClickBina's renovation permit guide lists changes to the roof line or roof pitch among the works that need council approval. Replacing trusses to the same roof shape is different from changing it, so confirm with the engineer or the council which applies to your job.

Changing the roof covering at the same time

Truss replacement often goes with a change of roof covering. The metal vs tile roof guide explains the trade-off: tiles are heavy and need trusses that can carry them, while metal is light and suits low pitches. ClickBina's roof tile types guide adds that switching between tile and metal is not like-for-like, because the battens have to be reconfigured. Decide the covering first, because the frame is designed around it.

What happens on the job

1. Termite treatment and an inspection of the whole roof space.
2. Scaffolding and protection for the rooms below and the neighbours' side.
3. Stripping the roof covering and battens over the affected area.
4. Removing the old trusses and fixing the new ones to the design.
5. New battens, underlay and the roof covering, then ridges, flashings and gutters.
6. Repairing any ceiling boards damaged by the sagging or the works.

A roof opened in the rainy season needs a plan for temporary cover at the end of every working day. Ask the contractor how the house will be kept dry while the roof is off.

What truss work costs

ClickBina's roofing guides price truss work as an add-on to a re-roof, alongside the other structural items (indicative 2026, Klang Valley):

The spread is wide because it depends on how many trusses are affected, the roof area, and whether the whole roof comes off. Ask for the truss work, the roof covering and the scaffolding to be priced as separate lines.

Terrace houses and neighbours

In a terrace, the roof is continuous across the party wall and the trusses may bear on it. Work at the boundary affects the neighbour's roof, flashing and ceiling. Tell the neighbour before work starts, agree how the junction will be made watertight, and record the condition of their side first.

How ClickBina can help

WhatsApp us your job details for a quote: what you have seen in the roof space, whether termites have been treated, the roof covering, and whether you want to change it. ClickBina is an experienced KL & Selangor contractor for whole-house refurbishment and trade coordination. We reply within the hour, and the price we agree is a flat price with no hidden charges. A site visit is RM150, waived if you go ahead.

Sources & methodology

• ClickBina roof rust grading guide — the re-roofing guide's structural add-on prices, including truss work.
• ClickBina Kuala Lumpur renovation guide — timber trusses in older terraces and the termite-damage price line.
• ClickBina termite damage repair and metal vs tile roof guides — assessment before carpentry and truss capacity.

How we estimated prices: every RM figure on this page is quoted unchanged from the ClickBina roof rust grading and Kuala Lumpur renovation guides, where they are published as indicative 2026 ranges for the Klang Valley.