Replies

1. 
   JTC1 | Jun 05, 2005 12:52am | #1

   Yes, have used them.

   Never with that great of a span.

   Can't comment on price in your area as price can differ significantly from company to comany in the same town / county.

   Find and talk to your local truss company(s).  An important question to ask is if they have their own, on-site or on-plant LPE who can sign off and stamp the drawings -- OR -- do they have to get their designs from some central engineering group (can be a major delay if you have any questions during the install as virtually any question you would have would be an engineering question).

   Jim

   Never underestimate the value of a sharp pencil or good light.   

1. 
   TMO | Jun 05, 2005 12:58am | #2

   Thanks Jim

    

   My lumber yard guy has gone home for the day. I recognize the probability that the price you get them for won't be exactly what I can get them for but It would give me a number to use in an estimate I'm presenting tommorrow..

    

1. 
   JTC1 | Jun 05, 2005 01:26am | #4

   $ 3600., for 2 floors each 20' x 36' on 24" centers, delivered. May have been a special price (Habitat for Humanity house), I did not negotiate for the price, just accepted delivery and installed them.  Others handled the negotiations.

   I think this info is good, keep in mind we were only spanning 20' and could do that with a 14" deep truss.  Your trusses will be deeper / taller, and more $$$.

   Jim

   Never underestimate the value of a sharp pencil or good light.

2. 
   cperry | Jun 05, 2005 01:25am | #3

   I've used them many times. the height of the truss is dtermined by the length of the span. I've spanned  36' before. The plant engineer will give your several options such as 12", 16", 19.2" or 24" on center.They cost a little over $3.00/ft in east TN. You may want to look at I-beams or LVL configurations. Which may be more cost effective. cperry

3. 
   Piffin | Jun 05, 2005 02:13am | #5

   There are disadvantages 5to keep in mind. It can be done and the truss company can both engineer it for you, spec it, and price it.
   The cons are the potential for vibration in something that large, the depth of the truss you will need ( I'm guessing 22" to 24" ) and the higher cost.

   some of the cost wil be offset by labour savings for the framers and the mechanical subs
   some of the vibrtation can be dampened with carefull installation of the strongbacks and adding strapping to the bottoms.
   The depth - that's something you'll have to work into your design elecvations. Keep in mind that the change from a 11-1/4" 2x12 floor frame to a 24" truss joist will add two steps to any staircase penetrating this floor system. That will add to the floorspace that must be allotted to the stairwell in the design

    

    

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1. 
   TMO | Jun 05, 2005 02:35am | #6

   I hadn't thought of that stair well situation. Perhaps they can live with a more conventional framing method.  For the mechanical subs we were already planning a block foundation with an extra course of block. Gives everybody more room and doesn't end up feeling like a cave. Allows plumbing and heating to be run below the joists