40x60 garage w/ Horizontal Slat siding

[Saw Dog]

I am building a 40x60 garage. I want to have a nice size loft for living qtrs over half of the garage. I've been comparing stick built to metal trusses.

Leaning towards the metal trusses because I like the clear span look of the garage section and then can add to interior as I go with loft etc made with wood framing.

My question is that I want to do Hardi board horizontal slats. To have this match an eventual house I will build. I am hearing that I will need to do regular framing in between trusses for Hardi board to attach to instead of horizontal girts. Has anyone on this site done that? And is it a waste of money to use metal trusses.

Any opinions or recommendations?

 

[akdiesel]

I have a 40' x 60' stick built shop with an open floor span. You can get the trusses for this setup. It would be nice to have more head room with the steel truss design but as you have mentioned, siding attachment can be difficult and costly.
I live in a colder climate and I have high winds. The shop has lap siding shingles and has only lost one shingle in its 10 years.
There has been discussion about attaching interior walls and such onto a metal shop. It can be done but just like siding difficult and costly.
The 2x6 construction gives good inulation values (hot or cold), as well as sound control. Metal buildings can be insulated just as well but the metal will transfer the heat and cold much more unless exterior colors (white) are used to reflect. Also for a more finished look the interior will need to have some cover like metal or sheet rock. Metal will add to the echo with in the shop even with some insulation in the cavities.
There are some good advantages to steel builds. Packages can be quickly built. Fire insurance I believe is less expensive and the product can handle fires better, but I don't put any of my stuff in that situation ( sh!t does happen though).
One thing to add to your future build would be to put at least two rows of concrete blocks above your shop floor for your exterior walls. Reason being, water control, this will protect the walls from moisture and banging things into it.
I am not a contractor but simply a user of products.