I a relative newcomer to the building trades and have an opportunity to build a freestanding carport. If it were a single-pitch roof I’d be fine (though I’m wondering what peoples’ thoughts are on the most practical material to span 18-20′, or would you plan for a center post?) but in this case the owner wants a gable roof to ‘echo’ the main house. Having not stick framed a roof myself, would it better to order trusses? or does anyone have a book/ literature/ etc. they would recommend? Any issues with bracing and/ or thrust?
All thoughts appreciated,
Thanks,
David
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Sounds like you are not only a newcomer to the trdes, but a newomer to designing also. Does ytour local authority allow you to do design?
I'd recommend trusses, but you'll also need to size the beams tht they sit on, and the posts holdiung up those beams. Then you'll need a way to resisst wind loads - diagonal kickers or hardwaare
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Thanks, piffin, yes I'm pretty new all around. The more I got to thinking about it the more I realize that, yes, this HO needs to have some plans drawn up, including post footing and post specs, hw specs, beam calcs, etc. As is not uncommon she had an 'idea of the moment' for 'just a carport', and tends underestimate the time, labor, and knowledge req'd to complete a job (not the best kind of client, huh?)
by educating a client, I gain their confidence to the point that I am "Their man" for what they want. You don't have to duck the job, offer to get the right people to do what she wants as far as design, and do it under service contract so you make money off that part of it too.Unless she is assuming that by using you as a less experienced guy, she is getting it alll cheap. Your business won't grow by serving bottom pricing cleaarance sale shoppers
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!