*gbeichho
December 12th, 2003, 09:42 AM
#34: Homemade Truss Plate Author: gbeichho, Location: Toronto, Canada Posted: Tue Nov 25, 2003 1:20 am
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In the attic of my cottage, I have a couple of homemade trusses (which were obviously added much later than the rest of the roof framing). I'm about to close up the attic (new ceiling) so I'm going to permanently shore up the roof now (while it's still accessible).
I had a contractor look at it and he recommending putting in a whole series of trusses similar to the ones there (the roof is very stable where the trusses are).
As you can see from the picture, the trusses are 2x6 (ceiling joist) and 2x4 arms. Unfortunately, the truss plates are also home made. It looks like they just cut a 9x9" piece of sheet metal, drilled a few holes and nailed it on. I searched high and low and cannot find any mending plates, or truss plates that size anywhere.
Anyone have any suggestions (I'm in Ontario Canada)?
I really don't want to pay for an Engineer to spec out a real truss and have a bunch manufactured...
http://www.eichholzer.net/webpostings/TrussRight640.jpg
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#40: Author: joed, Posted: Tue Nov 25, 2003 8:04 am
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I'm not an engineer but those don't look anywhere near adequate. I would consider using some 1/2" plywood on each side and lots of screws strengthen them.
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#61: Author: Wgoodrich, Posted: Tue Nov 25, 2003 7:45 pm
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If those steel plates are thicker and not bendable easily they should be fine. In the picture they look like thin pieces of tin. If so Joed has the idea.
I am curious. How are you planning to install new premade trusses inside an exisitng home?
Why not install properly rafters and ceiling joists instead of trusses?
Curious
Wg
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#71: Author: joed, Posted: Tue Nov 25, 2003 8:50 pm
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I am assuming they are a thin sheet metal. If they are thicker then I would say they need more nails. I only see 3 nails in the supports and they look very close to not even being in the wood. They bottom cord appears to only have 4 nails.
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#74: Author: gbeichho, Location: Toronto, Canada Posted: Tue Nov 25, 2003 9:35 pm
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Yes, they are definately sheet metal (not tin), but my contractor also commented that they needed more nails. He also recommended shoring up the roof by putting in the additional trusses. I am going to put in a ceiling (right now it's a drop ceiling) and once it's all closed up, any major changes to the attic will be exponentially more difficult.
I'm building the trusses because the bottom cord only runs to the load bearing wall. There are already ceiling joists running from that point to the outside wall which support an already installed ceiling. I think it is a lot less work to build about 14 more trusses than to lay 20 foot ceiling joists and new rafters.
I certainly like the plywood idea (I did some web research today), but I'm not sure how to manufacture this now. I assume one is supposed to create the truss and then put it in place. This might be very difficult to accomplish due to space limitations so it might be easier to build it in place. I was reading that you should use glue and box nails to build the trusses with plywood.
I've linked the archived article which has a bunch of pictures:
http://www.selfhelpforums.com/selfhelparchives/viewtopic.php?t=2025
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#144: Author: Wgoodrich, Posted: Thu Nov 27, 2003 3:29 pm
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A truss is an alternative to repetitive lumber style construction. However a where there is a truss there is supposed to be an engineer supporting the design of the truss providing detailed data showing load carrying capabilities of that engineered truss.
While many have built look alike trusses they are often copied from a truss that was designed for a specific use.
If you plan to build trusses I would involve an engineer to help with the design of that engineered truss unless you are capable of providing the engineering data that is supposed to accompany trusses.
I suggest you investigate installing a ridge board attached to the exisitng trusses then installing properly sized rafters. The existing truss will hold the ridge board until the rafters are set. Then install properly sized ceiling joists being used as the collar ties for the roof/rafter support.
Either way try to do it per Code rules not as a copycat unknowing of the difference of designed use of an existing truss as a template that may not be engineered for use in your construction design.
Trying to build a truss is much more work and unless using an engineer involving way too much guess work compared to using the Code minimum standards for your design.
Good luck
Wg
----
In the attic of my cottage, I have a couple of homemade trusses (which were obviously added much later than the rest of the roof framing). I'm about to close up the attic (new ceiling) so I'm going to permanently shore up the roof now (while it's still accessible).
I had a contractor look at it and he recommending putting in a whole series of trusses similar to the ones there (the roof is very stable where the trusses are).
As you can see from the picture, the trusses are 2x6 (ceiling joist) and 2x4 arms. Unfortunately, the truss plates are also home made. It looks like they just cut a 9x9" piece of sheet metal, drilled a few holes and nailed it on. I searched high and low and cannot find any mending plates, or truss plates that size anywhere.
Anyone have any suggestions (I'm in Ontario Canada)?
I really don't want to pay for an Engineer to spec out a real truss and have a bunch manufactured...
http://www.eichholzer.net/webpostings/TrussRight640.jpg
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
#40: Author: joed, Posted: Tue Nov 25, 2003 8:04 am
----
I'm not an engineer but those don't look anywhere near adequate. I would consider using some 1/2" plywood on each side and lots of screws strengthen them.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
#61: Author: Wgoodrich, Posted: Tue Nov 25, 2003 7:45 pm
----
If those steel plates are thicker and not bendable easily they should be fine. In the picture they look like thin pieces of tin. If so Joed has the idea.
I am curious. How are you planning to install new premade trusses inside an exisitng home?
Why not install properly rafters and ceiling joists instead of trusses?
Curious
Wg
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
#71: Author: joed, Posted: Tue Nov 25, 2003 8:50 pm
----
I am assuming they are a thin sheet metal. If they are thicker then I would say they need more nails. I only see 3 nails in the supports and they look very close to not even being in the wood. They bottom cord appears to only have 4 nails.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
#74: Author: gbeichho, Location: Toronto, Canada Posted: Tue Nov 25, 2003 9:35 pm
----
Yes, they are definately sheet metal (not tin), but my contractor also commented that they needed more nails. He also recommended shoring up the roof by putting in the additional trusses. I am going to put in a ceiling (right now it's a drop ceiling) and once it's all closed up, any major changes to the attic will be exponentially more difficult.
I'm building the trusses because the bottom cord only runs to the load bearing wall. There are already ceiling joists running from that point to the outside wall which support an already installed ceiling. I think it is a lot less work to build about 14 more trusses than to lay 20 foot ceiling joists and new rafters.
I certainly like the plywood idea (I did some web research today), but I'm not sure how to manufacture this now. I assume one is supposed to create the truss and then put it in place. This might be very difficult to accomplish due to space limitations so it might be easier to build it in place. I was reading that you should use glue and box nails to build the trusses with plywood.
I've linked the archived article which has a bunch of pictures:
http://www.selfhelpforums.com/selfhelparchives/viewtopic.php?t=2025
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
#144: Author: Wgoodrich, Posted: Thu Nov 27, 2003 3:29 pm
----
A truss is an alternative to repetitive lumber style construction. However a where there is a truss there is supposed to be an engineer supporting the design of the truss providing detailed data showing load carrying capabilities of that engineered truss.
While many have built look alike trusses they are often copied from a truss that was designed for a specific use.
If you plan to build trusses I would involve an engineer to help with the design of that engineered truss unless you are capable of providing the engineering data that is supposed to accompany trusses.
I suggest you investigate installing a ridge board attached to the exisitng trusses then installing properly sized rafters. The existing truss will hold the ridge board until the rafters are set. Then install properly sized ceiling joists being used as the collar ties for the roof/rafter support.
Either way try to do it per Code rules not as a copycat unknowing of the difference of designed use of an existing truss as a template that may not be engineered for use in your construction design.
Trying to build a truss is much more work and unless using an engineer involving way too much guess work compared to using the Code minimum standards for your design.
Good luck
Wg