On center spacing question

[thouk]

Hello,
I need some help from you night owls. I am going to start work on a shed tomorrow and I need to have your best knowledge on on-center spacing. The shed will be 10x12 feet. I am going to have a gambrell roof. The side walls will be seven feet tall and the roof over that for an additional four and one half feet. So my question is what on center dimension should I use for the walls and the roof trusses, sixteen versus twenty-four inches? I am in Nebraska so there will be snow on the roof. I hope you understand what I am asking and can help me. Thanks, Tony

 

[wintermute]

That might be a question for your local building inspector for what's required. Personally I tend to over-build things and would just go with 16" centers.

 

[mypov]

Local code should specify what is required for your area - what kind of material are you putting on top of your trusses?

Depends on your choice of material
24 oc trusses, followed by 1x4 lumber strapped to your trusses (perpendicular) 15" on centres followed by tin,
or 24" on centres followed by 1/2" OSB (DON"T FORGET H CLIPS) followed by roofing membrane followed by shingles, rolled roofing...
or 16" on centre trusses, followed by 3/8" OSB (DON"T FORGET H CLIPS) followed by roofing membrane followed by shingles, rolled roofing

Something like that anyway - but as mentioned above x2 - your local building code should shed light on the subject. If you're not getting inspected, or dealing with permits, first (give your head a shake) then over build to ensure it's safe.

 

[Provincial]

2x4 studs use 16" centers. 2x6 studs use 24" centers. Two story uses 2x6 on 16" centers. On a shed that small, I would just go with 16" centers, even if I used 2x6's, since the material costs would be not that much greater.

 

[mypov]

I've not seen 2x6 lumber used for rafters at all - not residential in Northern Canada anyway, and we've got snow load up here . . .
(Well, that's not fully true) I should say, I've never seen engineered rafters made out of 2x6 material...I used 2x6 material creating my rafters on my addition, but I ran off a ledger board and the span was 10 feet...Ran them at 15 on centre.

Man, it's a shed, you're not going to be walking on there, or anything and you don't have a very long span, you would be totally fine with 2x4's - but we can all speculate when its your project and your building code you must meet.

 

[HOOTinKY]

I'd go with 16 on center.

I'm about to do the same thing myself. Zoning will let me have a 10x12 with only a permit anything bigger requires a structural permit. I want to use what loft space I can for storage as well as tuck the Kubota in it. Most likely changeing the roof to be like the house, except just one gable above the side 7' door.

 

[GeorgiaHybrid]

Walls at 16" from 2x4 and the roof at 16" C/C. Even if you use "H" clips for the roof decking, the OSB will sag over time. If your shed was in 8' increments (10x16 or 12x16) I would run 19.2 spacing on the roof trusses. You would have one less truss for every 8' in length and no sag in your decking at that spacing although you would still need to use "H" clips between the trusses.

By the way, most OSB decking is marked for 19.2 C/C as well as most new tapes. Look for a small star or diamond marking on the tape.

 

[ForceFed70]

Guys, this is a 10x12 shed. There is very little weight here.

2x4 24" OC IS overbuilding it! 24" OC will be plenty strong and allows for better insulation (if used), a little less work, and a slightly lower cost of materials.

 

[thouk]

So I don't know whose advise I took but I am going with the 16" on center. I was originally going to go with three skids but the ground is not level so I had to by to other skids to help level the shed. I am working on pics as I go. It will be fun getting this finished. I am living in a mobile home that has osb flooring at this time. As soon as I get the shed doen all of my tools are going out to the shed. Then I can really get started on the house to make it mine.
Thanks all, Tony
P.s. to provide an example of what needs to be done with this trailer, as I am typing this there are two mice that are chewing on the mice poison next to me as I type. I hope the poison kills them quick. That much more incentive to get my shed done quick.
P.s.s. Just some fyi... those traps that have the sticking stuff for which the mice are supposed to stick to don't work. They are running over it like astro-turf.

 

[Milton Shaw]

Those sticky mouse traps do work, Step on one -your caught, can't get it off your foot and hop around on other foot until you fall down. Send pictures.

 

[thouk]

Well I went back to the depot of homes. I bought some of the snap traps but I put too much peanut butter / poison on it. I figure they will eventually eat it down to where it gets snapped shut. I also bought some of those electronic thingies. The mouse must have bad hearing because it hasn't left the house. Back to the drawing board.

 

[GeorgiaHybrid]

CCI rat shot in a .22 works wonders....My old house had the outline of a gopher rat in the end of the kitchen cabinets until I replaced them. You could tell he was well centered in the pattern....

 

[thouk]

Hey Georgia,
I have a Beretta Neos with a Laser sight on it that could do the trick. I might run down to Wally world and buy some. I think I may have some in the ammo can that my Pops left with me. Thanks, Tony
P.s. I hope to get some more done on the shed after I eat a pizza for breakfast.

 

[Will67]

Any progress pictures??