Can my trusses support a ceiling?

[bradthebold]

I am wanting to add a metal (probably) ceiling to this side of my shop but am concerned about the weight. This side is 24x40' and it looks like it would only add ~650lbs total and the metal panels are well under 1lb / sf.

The shop was build in 1981 and 2x12 trusses are 12' OC. The previous owner/builder put up joists between the trusses on this side and hung roll insulation with 1x4s to hold it up. So it's been holding that weight fine for probably 40 years. There is a 2x6 wall on the edge of the shop and in the middle that supports those two trusses, but there is 1 unsupported one in the middle.

Can this setup support any weight / more weight? I can't imagine adding 0.7 lbs/sf would be the tipping point assuming they aren't designed to support any weight, but I'm not going to deconstruct what's already there. Having 2/3 of the trusses supported by walls seems like it would help.

 

[BillK]

Get up there and see if you can find any stamps on the trusses. That would tell you what they are capable of supporting. I guess you are thinking of putting the ceiling up at the top where the lights are mounted ? Personally I cant imagine them not being able to hold that weight.

 

[Matt018888]

I agree with billk, otherwise you could have a engineer come out. But I think your good.

 

[1/4atatime]

I say send it! It's not much weight per sqft

 

[MovingAlong]

Might reach out to The Truss Company there locally. Take some measurements & pics, go down and talk with them...

 

[bradthebold]

Yes, the first two pictures with the lights are the room I want to put the ceiling in. I'm planning on just screwing into the existing joists through the 1x4s that are there. The others show the exposed trusses in the other side of the shop.

I will climb up and see if I can find any markings though.

 

[bradthebold]

I can't find any markings on them or any permits online.

They are pretty beasty though, the 2x12s overlap each other by 9 1/2' and have 13 bolts holding them together and to the 2x6 king post and webbing stacks. Plus the bolts holding them and bracing them to the 6x6s on the side and bolts holding top chords, king post, and webbing together at the peak.

And half the weight of the ceiling is supported by the walls on each side, I imagine I can do whatever I want for a ceiling, but might check with the truss company just to make sure.

 

[carlaisle]

Donuts and coffee says those trusses were built on site. Can't inspect well enough from the pictures to pass judgement, but they have 40+ years of proof testing. If they were mine, I wouldn't worry about a steel liner ceiling.

 

[Ilikeike]

Donuts and coffee says those trusses were built on site. Can't inspect well enough from the pictures to pass judgement, but they have 40+ years of proof testing. If they were mine, I wouldn't worry about a steel liner ceiling.

Agree,

they look like some pretty beefy triangles.

 

[mikedodge]

Between the size of them and the span it doesn't look like it would be a problem.

 

[bradthebold]

Yes, they appear to be build on site. You can see pencil lines still.

 

[Boss Hog]

As someone else already said, it looks like the trusses are site built. You could hire an engineer to try to make some kind of determination. But that could get expensive.

We often get people calling to ask if their trusses can support a ceiling load. And when people are building a new post frame building, they often want the trusses designed without a ceiling load in order to make them as cheap as possible.

I always pushed hard to never design new trusses without a ceiling load. You never know what might happen in the future.

 

[rsanter]

In general any truss should handle the weight of the roof and a ceiling cover

 

[Boss Hog]

Rsanter - I think you're missing the point.


It's quite common for people to ask that their trusses not be designed for a ceiling load if they don't plan to install a ceiling when the building is built. I'm saying I think that's a bad idea, as you never know what will happen in the future.

 

[mike93lx]

I'd expect an ag building with 12' truss spacing to have been constructed in the absolute cheapest way possible and wouldn't count on it handing added weight

 

[BobnCO]

I'd expect an ag building with 12' truss spacing to have been constructed in the absolute cheapest way possible and wouldn't count on it handing added weight

Conversely, and in my experience most carpenters overbuild everything if not engineered. It’s just easier than trying to save a few bucks and eliminates call backs. I sometimes make fun of some of it due to the obvious overbuilding. Most work was not engineered not that long ago, and carpenters (even in ag areas) knew what they were doing… just look at all the 100+ year old houses still standing.

Get all your buddies over and hang on it and field test deflection.. it will or it won’t.