Trusses for shop

[akpolaris]

I am in the planning stage for building a shop this summer. I intend to do this out of pocket and build it myself as much as possible. I want to construct the roof trusses myself to cut on the cost. Plan is to pour the pad and use the slab to lay out the trusses. I need a engineered drawing or truss design for the inspector to sign off on. Is buying 1 truss and using it as a template for the remaining pieces n intelligent way to go.
Thanks

 

[Steevo]

Where are you located?
I don't know of any place in the USA where you can engineer your own trusses.
You can build a rafter-type roof, or a ridge-beam roof structure, but as far as I know you can't manufacture trusses that don't have stamped engineering drawings to accompany them.

 

[limeranger]

I'd call and get a quote for all the trusses. When I built my shop it was remarkably close to the same price to buy the lumber and build myself (even getting the lumber at a discount through my wife's work) vs. buying the trusses prebuilt and delivered to site. Quotes are usually free, then just figure out how much lumber it will cost to build the same, don't forget the plates or plywood for the intersection of pieces. Prices may have changed though since I built and it is always worth checking.

 

[denis4x4]

Doubt if a truss builder will do the engineering on a single truss knowing full well what you're planning on doing. I've really never thought that the cost of trusses was out of line considering the engineering that goes into them. Get a quote, I'm betting that you can't buy the wood and plates, let alone what the engineering costs, for the price of the finished product.

 

[Nowater]

Here in Florida site built trusses are not allowed. If you are going to build it yourself, pick and chose your battles!

 

[kbs2244]

Check your state University agriculture department.
Many of them have blueprints for various types of farm buildings.
And this may include trusses.
They will be stamped for use within your state.

 

[BigGMC]

I need a engineered drawing or truss design for the inspector to sign off on. Is buying 1 truss and using it as a template for the remaining pieces n intelligent way to go.
Thanks

I don't believe that would fly in any locale.... the manufactured truss, which is engineered for a given installation, will be held together with barbed steel plates which are pressed on (with a huge hydraulic press table) to ensure the barbs are fully embeded. Many trusses (based on size/loading requirements) are constructed of much denser southern yellow pine, which isn't carried at every lumber yard.
You could never replicate this at home.
Screwed and glued plywood plates would have different capacities/specifications than the purchased truss constructed with steel plates.

 

[jlckmj]

buy them, the 24ft. wide scissors trusses for my garage were only about $75 each delivered to my back yard.

You don't have your location in your profile or say where you are located, so no one can help you out with people that make them in your area.

Jim

 

[Red05GT]

Where are you located? Over 30 years ago when we built our first home, we site built our
own trusses which we glued and plywood gusseted. We used a truss design book from
a midwestern agricultural college, still have it around here somewhere. At that time we
put our floor deck down and then built a jig on the floor deck, precut all of the truss parts
and then proceeded. After glueing and nailing the gussets on one side, we then woulld flip
the truss over and glue and nail the gussets on the other side, and then move the trusses
to a stockpile for use after the walls were framed. I have been accused of being the most
frugal guy around, but I don't know that you can save enough now with the price of plywood
for the gussets, and the 2 x s to justify your free labor. I have found going with an Amish
barn building supplier and ordering the trusses direct to be cheaper than going with say
Carter Lumber, or Lowes. They just order from a manufacturer and add on their markup.

 

[DekeT]

Building your own trusses is how the term penny wise pound foolish got its origin. Seriously, spending resources for truss construction is the least likely return for your investment of time and money. I am all for your doing everything yourself that you can but pick your battles wisely.

 

[cyamaha2007]

We can build on site trusses here. When i went to tech school in 07 we had to build on site trusses for a 30 x 100 school buss shed. I wouldnt do it unless it was a small addition.

 

[Jmatlock88]

Go to your local library and look for Designs for Glued Trusses Midwest Plan Service MWPS-9.

All the designs use plywood, glue, and nails for the gusseted joints so you can build on site. Follow the instructions/charts exactly.

10,000 different truss designs.
16,443 combinations of span, lumber grade, slope.

 

[The Boss]

Like others have said, get a quote and compare it - you'll be surprised.

 

[akpolaris]

I am located in a rural community in Alaska. The main reason that I am need an engineered design is for the inspection. The only reason I am going thru the inspection is for financing purposes when I sell the property in the future. In this rural setting is no applicable building code requiring compliance unless I decide that I want to get an inspection, for future financing. I intend to price the trusses from a plant. I have worked in a truss plant before and fully understand the process (and liabilities). I have time and tools, prefering to do for myself rather than pay somebody for what I can do myself. I do appreciate all your input.

 

[BWS]

DekeT,pretty much summarizes my feelings to a point.

That would be for pretty much every case.There are however,times when $$ is NOT at issue......its when conditions are such that we're outside of the *curve where truss co's and engineers call,their sweetspot.

*Curved trusses are one example of this...........don't believe me?Take a curve top truss design into your local truss manf and get a quote.

Need another....lets do some period correct timber framed trusses,complete with steel rivoted connectors

Need more?I can do this all day.

Just sayin....you need to look at a broader spectrum......Truss co's are extremely focused.As are contractors.They both are steering you twds the most bang for the buck....and like I said,thats pretty much every case.There are times when the 200$ an hr. engineering fee and setting up "shop" to produce your own trusses where that $$/time investment PALES in comparison to the overall finished product,n'es pas?

 

[joe_padavano]

I've erected two horse barns and now a 36x48 shop using trusses. I couldn't buy the lumber and hardware to assemble trusses (ignoring my labor) for what I was able to buy them for. The 36ft trusses on my latest building I got from Home Depot. Just go to the contractor desk and order them. The truss manufacturer has canned software that does the engineering in seconds and spits out a complete engineering package that gets delivered with the trusses. My 36 ft trusses were $100 each, delivered to my site. It isn't worth screwing around for that.

 

[manrmark]

Free Truss Plans

http://www.public.iastate.edu/~mwps_dis/mwps_web/tr_plans.html

 

[Kevin54]

My Uncle built his own trusses and his garage passed all inspections. That was a few years ago, but unless the rules have changed, you are still allowed in Ohio. He did what the OP wants to do. By one then copied it, but instead of the metal joiners he glued and screwed plywood on each side.

 

[bygasper]

I just built a shop/barn in NW Missouri. There are no inspections or permits required in the area. Common sense and thinking ahead are the "inspections"...and some of that was lacking at times by some. However, the building warranty requires engineered trusses (obviously). You can order them, as many have mentioned, from HD, Lowe's, or Menards (northern chain).

 

[akpolaris]

Good info & ideas here, thanks