The attached pic shows some trusses above a garage with 2×6 bottom chords.
The plates seem a bit wimpy to me though, and I was wondering if this type of chord is designed to carry loads (storage)
The attached pic shows some trusses above a garage with 2×6 bottom chords.
The plates seem a bit wimpy to me though, and I was wondering if this type of chord is designed to carry loads (storage)
Learn how to plan, fabricate, and install a chute to conveniently send your dirty clothes from an upstairs bathroom or hallway to your laundry room below.
"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.
Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox
Fine Homebuilding
Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox
© 2024 Active Interest Media. All rights reserved.
Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox
Become a member and get instant access to thousands of videos, how-tos, tool reviews, and design features.
Start Your Free TrialStart your subscription today and save up to 81%
SubscribeGet complete site access to expert advice, how-to videos, Code Check, and more, plus the print magazine.
Already a member? Log in
Replies
It's hard to tell a lot from one picture. Can you give me a bit more info?
What span and pitch am I looking at?
Got a picture where I can see most of the truss? Or even a rough sketch of the web pattern?
Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia is the fear of long words.
I wasn't bright enough to take more than the one.
The span is about 22-24 (double car garage), pitch maybe 8:12.
The first three trusses from the right have the 6" bottom chord and had OSB decking for storage (with a drop down stair between bottom chords,) the rest were like the one on the left with a 2x4 bottom chord and no decking
I've attached a rough sketch, not to scale.
Thanks
In my workshop (22x30) I put in "W" trusses with 2x6 bottom cord. (10 pitch). I screwed down 5/8" plywood and have a great place for storage.You get out of life what you put into it......minus taxes.
Marv
Thanks.
Awhile ago BH offered the opinion that in most cases, a truss designed to carry storage loads will have the 6" bottom chord, which these do.
The connector plate looked a bit wimpy to me though, so I though i"d see if BH, our resisent truss guru, had some further thoughs
Bob - I suspect that they were designed for storage loads, based on your sketch. But it sure seems odd that they would only do that for the first 3 trusses.
The trusses you saw were most likely designed for light storage - Something on the order of 20 PSF. That's pretty typical in a "storage truss". And that would explain the small plates at the bottom chord joints.
Keep in mind that a truss plate is rated for around 200# per square inch of plate area, on BOTH sides. So technically a big plate isn't called for.
When I do storage trusses, I overplate the bottom chord joint as well as the peak plate. And I use 30 or 40 PSF (instead of 20 PSF) if there's more than 6' of headroom in a storage truss. But that's just personal preference - It's not required.It is an unfortunate fact that we can secure peace only by preparing for war. [John F. Kennedy]
"In my workshop I put in "W" trusses with 2x6 bottom cord.I screwed down 5/8" plywood and have a great place for storage."
Just wanted to mention that using a 2X6 BC isn't enough - The trusses have to be DESIGNED for storage loads as well.Lord, I wish to find you, but spare me from those who have!