truss review

[jpcjguy]

Hi all,

So doing some truss pricing on a 48x30. All doors on the 48' side (eave). I will have 12' wall and thought about splitting the space with regular trusses and scissor trusses for the area where a lift would go one day.
Here is what I provided via email to the truss company:

I think a 4/12 pitch (possibly 5/12) would be best. Trying to keep building height down since I will have 12' walls.
Lets plan on 16" on center - I can always adjust to 24" on the scissor side.
For the storage side truss, plan on reasonable storage - no engine blocks, but could be car parts, camping gear, holiday stuff, etc.
There would be drywall attached to the bottom of all the trusses at some point to enclose and insulate the the garage space.

This is what they came back with - all based on 16" center:
17- S1- 146.50 each, plus tax
18- T1- $97.50 each, plus tax
2- T1G- $175.00 each, plus tax

That is $4839 out the door!! Wow.
I have attached the document specs of the trusses. What options do I have to reduce the number of trusses? Can I move to 24" on center? How would that impact my "storage"?

That would get me to:
12- S1
13- T1
2- T1G
for a total of $3554 out the door.

Looking at the scissor truss - has me thinking at the ability to insulate at the edges - getting pretty thin.... (granted I am in Richmond,VA so we don't extreme weather - or if we do it is not for very long)

Attached are the specs of the trusses.

 

[jpcjguy]

and I just got clarification that these were engineered for 24 and 16" spacing. (even though the sheet says: Spacing- 1-4-0.

 

[Homerr]

That is $4839 out the door!! Wow.

Maybe the only thing here to adjust here are your expectations. Building is expensive. But I'd also say that $130/truss seems okay to me. Truss guys gotta eat too.

 

[LB-1911]

Looking at the scissor truss - has me thinking at the ability to insulate at the edges - getting pretty thin.... (granted I am in Richmond,VA so we don't extreme weather - or if we do it is not for very long)

Take a look @ Raised Heel Trusses

 

[jpcjguy]

Take a look @ Raised Heel Trusses

good idea - but doesn't that raise the "wall" height?

 

[Radix2]

good idea - but doesn't that raise the "wall" height?

It obviously changes the exterior wall height a bit, but you should definately change to a raised or "energy" heel if this is a heated/cooled building. Many areas will not even approve this type of truss if hvac equipment will be installed.

The trusses you show will make it impossible to properly insulate at the eaves.


Also request that they rerun for 24" on center, it may not change anything if the sections are already at the minimum, but I trust the software, not words. They need to rerun to get the proper install drawings anyway.

Higher roof pitch will bring down exterior wall heights since it subtracts under the soffits.

 

[matt_i]

One other issue is that if you intend to access the attic, 16" o-c is a no-go unless you are super thin. 24" o-c is minimum if you ask me. It would be nicer to have a 36-48" wide opening for access which involves designing truss setting differently.

I wouldn't call the standard "W" truss a "storage truss"...of course a few things can be thrown up there but its nothing like an actual "attic storage truss" with a clear-span opening. Imo, the attic storage truss, despite extra initial cost, is a very very good deal when you are talking about additional roofed square footage.

 

[Kaizen]

One other issue is that if you intend to access the attic, 16" o-c is a no-go unless you are super thin. 24" o-c is minimum if you ask me. It would be nicer to have a 36-48" wide opening for access which involves designing truss setting differently.

I wouldn't call the standard "W" truss a "storage truss"...of course a few things can be thrown up there but its nothing like an actual "attic storage truss" with a clear-span opening. Imo, the attic storage truss, despite extra initial cost, is a very very good deal when you are talking about additional roofed square footage.

attic truss was my thought as well. you told them storage but you say normal truss. also pricing does not reflect what i saw for attic truss pricing. in retrospect i wish i did all attic trusses on my 30x36. Tons of space up there that i can't use now.

 

[jpcjguy]

I did ask about the attic truss (square box in the center of the truss) and was told the price would jump from 97.50 to 175-200 a truss. In the end, I would access this from an A-frame ladder on the 'scissor' truss side. Again - general storage for stuff I might need 1-2 times a year. And as I get older, I got three kids that can climb up and get stuff for me!
Another thought that haunts me is - "have space, will fill it"......

 

[maxpat82]

28x44 here with 5/12 pitch in quebec.
raised heel Attic truss at 24" (14' attic section that I had to put 2x10x14' between each truss to make the floor at 12" OC (as per the truss manufacturer) )

 

[jpcjguy]

28x44 here with 5/12 pitch in quebec.
raised heel Attic truss at 24" (14' attic section that I had to put 2x10x14' between each truss to make the floor at 12" OC (as per the truss manufacturer) )

I am on the fence on the raised heel - again I would not be HVAC continuously and we have fairly average weather most of the year.
Do you have any pics to share? What is your wall height?

 

[maxpat82]

I have 2 height 10'(last 24') and 12'(First 20')
with the 1' and 3' raised hell truss it give me 13' wall on the outside

outside view:
https://imgur.com/Yaa2XfV

to give an idea of the inside wall height:
https://imgur.com/IK8JRKS

truss:
https://imgur.com/r5H5ZT1

https://imgur.com/rZ2dMnU

12" on center for the floor section:
https://imgur.com/Lwj74EZ

 

[climb.on]

It obviously changes the exterior wall height a bit, but you should definately change to a raised or "energy" heel if this is a heated/cooled building. Many areas will not even approve this type of truss if hvac equipment will be installed.

The trusses you show will make it impossible to properly insulate at the eaves.


Also request that they rerun for 24" on center, it may not change anything if the sections are already at the minimum, but I trust the software, not words. They need to rerun to get the proper install drawings anyway.

Higher roof pitch will bring down exterior wall heights since it subtracts under the soffits.

Radix2 is right. You should absolutely add the energy heel. I paid $7900 for trusses on my 36x48. 8/12 pitch, bonus trusses w/ 18" energy heel. 24" o.c. I know it's a very different truss, but your price doesn't seem crazy to me.

 

[rburke65]

I did an 8/12 pitch, full attic trues....didn’t think about the energy heel....on a 32’x56’ x13’ build. Full stairway to attic. The joy is realized everyday .... long after the pain of the price is forgotten.