Silly question..... Did you ask at the contractors counter of a big box store or your local lumber yard in your area for a quote on your trusses? In our area, unless you are doing a tract, the truss plants won't deal direct with the builder, orders go through the lumber yard. The truss engineer might call the builder or their architect with questions but usually all contact is through the supplier.
I love the use of attic trusses for extra space. Are you planning on using an interior stairwell or an exterior stair to access your attic space?
That sounds like a very good days work for two people. Some guys are real good and can make everything look easy. Please set up a video camera to show your progress so we can learn. In my experience, setting trusses with two men makes for long, hard day. 34' isn't huge but the top of the trusses will be more than 8' off the attic floor so it's a lot of up and down, from the lift to the wall and up on top of the trusses BUT we have seen video evidence of members here setting the last of their attic trusses by themselves out of a lack of help. It didn't look too safe, easy or fast but he did it and we saw it.
I hope you are able to find a truss plant that will make what you desire and that you are able to afford them.
Yes, I've already spoken with the the Orange and Blue store as well as the 2 lumber yards in my area; all pointed me to the same truss manufacturer.
The stairwell design is interior to the building along the back wall (4' wide) and runs through the wall by design then turns 90° so that access is available from the outside of the building, as well as from the garage area. There are 2 doors so secure access from both locations.
My neighbor owns an extendable boom lift with forks. When the trusses are delivered, scaffolding will already be set running along the inside of each wall from front to back. As I was taught years ago, lift all trusses into place; half at each end and standing upright leaning against a supported back wall. One man on each end walks the truss toward the center where pre-cut wood spacers are pre-installed creating the notch for the truss to sit in. TrussLox lock the top in until a temp 2x4 is shot from the underside of the truss every 4 trusses. Takes about 10 minutes/truss to get them set plumb and square. After lunch, the front and rear overhangs will get lifted and set into place then the plywood decking goes up on the boom and after the bottom row gets set, the TrussLox get removed and the rest goes down quick. It's a solid 12 hour day if the weather is good but the outcome is worth it and everything is done right.
Attached is an example attic truss from one of our house types.
Base truss and piggy back truss (two pieces as its too tall to go down the highway). Truss clear spans 42', has central attic room of 14.5' wide, and there is a 3' wide hvac chase behind the attic room.
Hope this gives you some food for thought.
Thanks Larry, that is exactly what I was hoping to see. One house I looked at buying had a truss bonus room slear spanning over a 4 car garage and I recall that room being around 24-25' so I'm confident 19' is not over reaching.
What your truss company is telling you is probably accurate, but since you don't believe them they told you to go waste your money for an engineer to tell you the same thing (or siginifiantly over design something that would work).....
The truss company is not going to build something and put a stamp on it unless they are comfortable it will perform.....
Actually, what they are telling me is that they don't don't have a design that meets my criteria, there was no discussion about them having a PE on staff and after driving through a few developments that they are supplying, I'm with the crowd that believes they are just a truss builder, not designer.
Perhaps contact this company to see if you can have them design a truss for you and you can buy the plans?
http://skandiatruss.com/
Judging by the floor decking, it looks like the room width for this one is 15 feet or so.
Thanks Dustball, I'll check in with them as well.
pole / post-frame barn builders can get pre-made trusses in your desired size, thru Menards IIRC. Maybe you need to look further afield for your trusses. The increase in delivery charges may be worthwhile to you.
I suspect Menards outsources their engineering (someone correct me if I'm wrong) and the nearest is 4 hours away. By the time I've reached that distance, I will have been through over dozen truss manufacturers and will probably have lost hope. I have a few email feelers out over the weekend so I should hear something back in the next day or two.
Once I get a truss drawing, I'll be happy to share it with everyone.
