Tri-force beam

[alien]

I am looking to build a 30’ x 24’ two car garage in Massachusetts. I do not want any support columns in the garage. One of the options I am looking into are Triforce beams.

does anyone have any experience with Triforce? Steel would be ideal but leadtimes and so far none of my builders want to deal with an I-beam. So it’s either an LVL which I think 30 foot is a bit long. Trusses with storage, or I joists.

I won’t be storing any engines or transmissions in above the ceiling. But I will have some fenders and hoods and assorted automotive parts and electrical parts. But it won’t be anything packed or full?

Thanks
Mark

 

[Half-fast eddie]

Steel bar joist? I have seen them 40 ft long. All it takes is headroom.

 

[kbs2244]

find a builder who is not afraid of steel
the steel supplier will work with you on delivery and install

 

[Yankeefarmer]

30 x 24 is not that big. I’m assuming you will be spanning the 24’ dimension. Storage trusses are familiar to all builders and readily available (at least in normal times.) Why don’t you want to use them? Remember, if you stick frame the roof with dimensional lumber, labor costs to place joists and then rafters will exceed that of trusses, which get you both ceiling/attic framing and roof framing at the same time.

 

[speed bump]

Why is 30 ft to long? Is this a ridge board or for a support beam? Quick check says you can easily get LVLs in lengths over 30 ft. You can use more than one and join them together as well. The only reason I would use steel in something that small is I needed a heavy ridge beam that was also compact or I was going to hang something off it (think crane).

 

[Walkers]

Steel bar joist? I have seen them 40 ft long. All it takes is headroom.

Bar joist is months wait time

 

[joe_padavano]

What, exactly, is the configuration of your building? Normal roof trusses can be bought to span distances much larger than 24ft or 30ft without internal support columns. My 36x48 building has 36ft trusses and no internal columns. Are you trying to build a second story on this building? If so, yes open truss joists work fine. If not, why even consider them?

 

[ATC]

My garage is 24x34 with standard roof trusses. Not sure why you'd think it would need a support down the center...?

 

[strutaeng]

24' span for a roof only? Yeah, standard open-web premanufactured wood trusses are just fine. Actually, that's what those Tri-force "beams" you mention appear to be: trusses. Maybe a bit different than the plated trusses one is used to seeing.

 

[Half-fast eddie]

I finally searched for their website ... tri-force beams are nothing more than standard floor trusses. Just a brand name.

 

[duneslider]

Floor trusses are great if you can afford the depth. Go for it if it works for you.

 

[firebirdparts]

Definitely a minority taste. You have to decide just what that floor is for, I guess, before you decide what to put into it. A 30 foot span attic truss is obviously not going to be very exotic.