Trim Truss Tails?

[icecactus]

Hey Guys,

I just got the trusses set on my shed build. I squared the walls the best I could and braced them as straight as I could get. I lined up the heel of the bottom chord with the outside edge of the wall framing. It actually lined about as perfect as I could ask for on each truss...imagine that...

So when I site down the tails, they look pretty consistent. But when I take an 8ft level and lay it against the ends of the tails (end grain of the top chord), about half of the tails seem to be about 1/4" short.

This is my first time ever building something like this so I am not sure what to do. Should I just install the fascia board and not worry about it? 1/4" close enough?

OR should I some how trim the longer tails 1/4" shorter so they are all consistent?

OR Shim the short tails? Whats the best way to shim them?

The problem with trimming, is I only specified a 6" overhang as I don't have room for a bigger eave. So I really can't afford to take much off.

EDIT: The tails will be exposed.

 

[Stuart in MN]

I'd nail up the fascia and sight down it a second time. Chances are it will be close enough, but you can add shims if necessary. Any lumber yard or big box store sells wood shims for this sort of thing, Home Depot has them for $1.37/package.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Unbrande...-Per-Bundle-PSH8-12-12/100082960?N=5yc1vZbqjt

 

[buddyboy]

it's ok if it's off as long as it isn't off crazy far.

it needs to look 'true', it doesn't need to be true. no one is going to throw a straight edge on it to check.

 

[splam]

Measure on outside trusses,chalk a line, mark with level or protractor and cut each tail to get straight. I don't know how many trusses but don't get in a hurry now and sight down a big bow for the rest of your life. Take the time and do it right now.

 

[larry4406]

Happens all the time on our new houses. Carpenter then measures off the wall sheathing then scabs to the tails as needed prior to chaulklined plumb cuts to ensure soffit is exact dimension. Especially important if you have hip roof as the soffit turns the corner and error will become apparent.

 

[Big Bad Dad]

string line will tell you what needs to be done. check both sides...

 

[Rookie2]

Hey Guys,


EDIT: The tails will be exposed.

Problem solved ! no big deal !

 

[splam]

If they are exposed I would still trim them all straight. If you don't it will make sheeting and drip edge more difficult.

 

[rslaback]

It's an extra step but we used to always cut the tails. It only takes about a half hour and we knew then that they were perfect. To trim them we would measure off the house on each end and then plumb a line up to the top of the truss. A chalk line would mark the top of each tail and then we would use a framing protractor set to the plumb line on the first truss to mark them all and cut them off.

I know in the scheme of things it doesn't really hurt anything but the idea of scabbing small chunks onto tails just seems hackish to me.

We used these. They aren't easy to find anymore but you could use a t bevel as long as you made sure not to bump it.