Roof Truss Estimate

[nota4re]

We are planning to build a 40x85' shop here in Southern California in the Spring (in the planning phases with the City now). I'm trying to build a reasonable estimate for all of the materials and I simply have no idea how to estimate what roof trusses will cost me.

Not looking for anything fancy. 40' span; 24" overhang; 4:12 pitch; 40psf loading. I figure I'll need ~44 of these if I can place on 24" centers. Anyone done anything similar and can help me get in the cost ballpark?

 

[jkeyser14]

I am in MD so prices are very different, but about $200 per truss material cost. Add $2k to rent a crane for a day and 3 framers at $25/hr for a day.

 

[marinusdees]

I built my shop 30 years ago. I had a buddy who was/is a structural engineer. He searched the boneyards in local truss manufacturing yards. Within 2 weeks he located some "mismade" trusses. I wanted a 40' wide building , settled for 39'. I wanted 40 feet long, settled for 42'. If you aren't too rigid in your thinking for dimensions and time line, you may save some money. I paid $750 for 32 trusses (16"} + 2 gable ends and settled for a 39' x 42 foot building with 16" spaced studs and trusses. If you can't adjust timeline or dimensions, good luck.
They delivered the trusses and I piled them in the yard and covered them with a tarp. When I wanted them set up on the top, they sent a boom truck for $65/hour and set them.
PS One guy built almost the whole structure, union carpenter, another buddy. Raised the walls with the neighbor's fork lift. Now I have two electric chain hoists hung on 6" I-beams slung under the center of the 39' dimension. I have no interior walls. Today would have to have an interior wall for shear strength.

 

[matt_i]

I'd start with your local lumberyard. Give them your specs. They can reach out to a truss mfg co and likely make a little markup but they also give you a point of leverage if there's any issues (I had one damaged, which came with free P.E. stamped markup and all of the materials needed to make the repair).

Or you could find the truss mfg co yourself. All the quotes are free.

They just need the distance across the top of the walls.

Its worthwhile, imo to investigate an "energy heel truss" if you are going to be conditioning the internal space. The acute angle down near the walls can get very short and cost you insulation depth near two of the walls.

 

[MushCreek]

When I got quotes for trusses on our SC home, they were able to give me a quote on the spot, over the phone. They have design and pricing programs, so they just punch in the numbers and it spits out an answer. I remember the conversation, as they had quoted me for 90 MPH wind rating. "How much for 120 MPH rating?" (Pause as I hear him tapping on his computer) "Huh. It comes out to the same price." I don't remember how much I paid; maybe $2500 for the set, but my house is smaller than that, it was 7 years ago, and I'm in rural South Carolina.

 

[JamesW84]

https://www.menards.com/main/buildi...tm?queryType=allItems&Spec_Span_facet=40+foot

calling truss manufactures for "wrong dimension" trusses sounds like a good idea if you don't need anything specific. The more specific on things you are, generally the more you will pay. That being said, mine were custom made mono trusses.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Following James's link to Menards site, you should be able to find their truss store. You can input dimensions for the correct trustees for your building.

I used it to price out some mono trusses for a possible future addition. You'll have to enter your zip code which may kick you out as Menards doesn't have stores in California.

 

[nota4re]

Thanks for all of the feedback and advice. This gives me the right ballpark estimating I was looking for. Roughly speaking, if I calculate $280 each x 44 = $12,320 for my trusses. Thanks again for all those that responded.

 

[ddurrett896]

I paid $250 each for like 22 attic storage truss - 27' long.

$400 crane rental and was done in 1.5 hours with 5 guys and little experience with trusses. BUY the Simpson spacers! Home Depot has decent pricing and you can return what you don't use.

I'd also recommend a strap gun (example NR38AK) for the straps.

1 guy tying and walking trusses, 1 guy on each side nailing off the trusses and 1 guy on each side with a strap gun nailing the spacers off.

 

[kbs2244]

With a span like that think about steel trusses.
Do search, it may be worth wile

The first 3 that came up

https://steeltrusssupply.com/about-us/

http://www.geckosteeltruss.net/

http://www.integrasteeltruss.com/

 

[PNWguy]

I'm about 750 miles north of you on I-5.

I just got a bid on 40' span plus 4' overhang trusses. My building is 40x84 and 4 in 12 pitch. About half the trusses have a narrow second story (sort of like a barn with a hay loft). The flat ceiling versions were a bit less, but not that much.

The 40' clear span requires a 2x12 engineered beam, and it's the expensive part. It ended up at $19,000 for 45-50 trussed, delivered to the top of the walls. A bit less that $400 each.

Because of the massive fires the past few summers, the forest has been opened to "salvage" logging - the mills are full and the prices are low. Some of those low prices may make it to So Cal, but it's still many miles of freeway to get materials down there.

I would hesitate going to the truss yards and asking what they have on hand, unless you're ready to build *today*. You really don't want your trusses spending a lot of time sitting and warping, while you're waiting for permits and engineering on you building. If the trusses are a different width than you have already planned for, you'll need to alter the drawings.

 

[scottydosnntkno]

If it’s truly just a box, email a couple local truss companies.

They’ll give you estimates based on your provided info. They don’t care, if you ask for X, they’ll price it and deliver and if it doesn’t fit, it’s on you and you prepaid for it anyways. So they’ll give you a quote.

Even if they’re not in your area, Menards has a great truss builder in their website that give you a price. A local company (at least here in michigan) is going to be about 30% cheaper than what Menards quotes you

 

[bad_idea]

I called the truss company and they gave me a quote over the phone while on the phone. Considerably cheaper than going through a lumber yard.