Hello all,
I’m looking for a source for roof truss in Wilmington Delaware.
I have a garage ( wood shop ) with an almost flat roof that is shot.
Just starting to do my homework now.
Going to price it out both ways:
1) Tear off and fix the bad wood. Then fresh torch down or something similar , professionally applied.
2) Put a 4/12 roof on ( my self ) and be done with it.
So how does Harry Homeowner ( or Bill ) go about getting a quote for truss’s?
Local lumber yard? Specialty supplier??
Thanks, Bill
Replies
They should be in the yellow pages under building materials or roof structures and trusses or roofing materials.... you get the picture. Then go or call and tell them your span and your pitch and whether you want gable trusses for each end. Plumb or square cuts. If yours are small enough you can hang them yourself but if they are too big you might ask if they will deliver with a lift (for which there will be a charge). Don't forget to have your hangers ready and a bracing method.
Depending on your roofing choice you make the decision on spacing i.e. 16'' or 24''
Consider a 5/12 or 6/12. Looks better, shingles last longer, and is still DIY friendly. Some of it depends on what pitch is on your house though... Roughly what pitch is on your house and what is the outside width of the building and how wide do you want the overhangs?
5/12 preferred!
6/12 ain't steep enough for scaffolds but the tools still slide off the roof.Liberty = Freedom from unjust or undue governmental control.
American Heritage Dictionary
local lumber yard
Right down the road from you, at the 40/13 split past the airport is an 84 Lumber. I've always had good luck with their trusses for small jobs.
Thanks to all!
Going with a 4/12 cause that's what is on my house and I want them to look the same.
Without a doubt I want them boomed up to the roof. For the most part I'm a one man band.
I can get some help but it's limited, so an extra charge for roof top delivery is ok with me.
Dogmeat12,
I have an 84 Lumber near me ( Ridge road ) close to the Pa. line. Never had any real luck with them, I'll try your guy's.
Bill
There used to be a company called Porter Truss in Bear. I forget exactly where, but somewhere behind Fox Run on 40. (I am betting Porter Road but dont remember)
I use an Amish company out of Lancaster. DL Truss. I am pretty certain they will deliver to you.
Danny Lapp of DL Truss is great. High quality and very cost effective.
They have boom on delivery truck and can set.
Whomever it is, you need to describe the width from wall to wall (outside dimension) how much overhang, if you want a raised heel or not, Pitch, inside configuration (flat, cathedral, etc) any special conditions, and number of trusses.
I would order the gable end trusses sheathed so that when you put em up, they are ready for siding or whatever your finished product is.
If you are in the City, make sure any contractor is registered, and even more important if you are in NCC. As of 2008, any unregistered contractors can get huge fines!!!
>> I would order the gable end trusses sheathed << Interesting - never heard of that before...
You've seriously never gotten sheated gables? I do that on probably 80% of the jobs I send out.
Former President Bill Clinton said that if his wife, Hillary, is elected president, he will do whatever she wants. You know Bill Clinton--when he makes a vow to Hillary, you can take that to the bank. [Jay Leno]
Nope - never heard of it...
Not sure it how well it would work for me either. Framers would have to give me a discount which they probably would but I don't know why I would want it unless I wanted them set on the house which would mean that they would have to be delivered at pretty close to exactly the correct time... In your area, are trusses often delivered house-top? Here, generally speaking, framers won't start working until the trusses are on site. Kind of makes for a scheduling inconsistency. Also, what if the house gets floor trusses and roof trusses? Two deliveries?
When gable end trusses are sheathed at the factory do they hang the sheathing down ~ 1 3/8" off the bottom chord?
I have a meeting with the truss salesmen tomorrow. I'll ask about it if I think of it.
Edited 2/17/2008 5:50 pm ET by Matt
Dang, you ask a lot of questions. (-:
"Not sure it how well it would work for me either. Framers would have to give me a discount..."
Around here it varies by county. In some counties it's just assumed that they ARE sheeted. In others they expect them to be sent out bare.
"In your area, are trusses often delivered house-top?"
Probably 2/3 of the time they are sent out with a crane and are set individualy.
"Here, generally speaking, framers won't start working until the trusses are on site. "
Around here we typically measure the foundation after the forms are stripped, then try to get the trusses built before the framers are ready for them.
I've never deliviered a set of trusses before a framer started framing. Generally they don't want them in the way.
"Also, what if the house gets floor trusses and roof trusses? Two deliveries?"
Yup. Floror trusses are generally a week out. Roof trusses are usually 2 or 3 weeks.
Is it possible to be totally partial?
Hummm... Just another way of doing business...
re >> I've never deliviered a set of trusses before a framer started framing. Generally they don't want them in the way. << What we do is get the lumber delivered first and set behind the foundation. Lumber companies have those 3 wheeled all terrane (fat tires) fork lifts. Then the trusses would be dropped off in the front yard. If the lot is that tight I might schedule a few lumber & truss drops but it's hard to pin anyone down to a specific time. My truss company is actually very reliable, but it's not like I can call and say "can I get them 4 hrs earlier, or 4 hrs later - unless I was able to give a few days notice.
Also framers sometimes like to do some assembly on the ground. Like maybe if the house is a hip, they would build the 2 hips on the ground and have the crane set each assembly up on the house.
>> Probably 2/3 of the time they are sent out with a crane and are set individualy. << To me that would mean a separate crane. The only crane my truss company has is one of those jobs that is mounted on the tractor trailer between the cab and the load. I can scarcely think of the last time I had a lot big enough to get a TT up next to the house... Generally we use boom trucks to set trusses which aren't too expensive and can get in places pretty good, plus they have a 2 hr minimum whereas most of the crane companies have 4 hr minimums.
It is funny how things vary from one area to another. Around here virtually no one has those 3 wheeled fork lifts. All of our cranes but one are the truck mounted ones. That way the crane and the trusses show up at the same time. Lot sizes are occasionally a problem. But our drivers are mostly talented enough to worm the thing in one way or another. Sometimes they drop the trailer in the street, then drive the truck up against the house to set the trusses. I'm not saying that what's done around here is right or wrong - Just different.
Recession is when your neighbor loses his job. Depression is when you lose yours. And recovery is when Jimmy Carter loses his. [Ronald Regan]
1. Yes, framer and truss company coordinate and truss company sets them or the framer rents a crane. Either way works.
2. No, they typically do not let sheathing overhang. I have not had any issues with flush truss either.
Does the framer at least sheath the gable end on the ground or to they set em by hand and then sheath the wall off ladders or lull or something?
Most of my framers even tyvek and put the rake boards on the gable end prior to setting.
(yes, the tyvek does overhang the bottom chord for overlap reasons)
>> Does the framer at least sheath the gable end on the ground or to they set em by hand and then sheath the wall off ladders or lull or something? <<
Yes, the sheathing is installed on the ground.
>> Most of my framers even tyvek and put the rake boards on the gable end prior to setting. <<
Yes. This is always part of the process too. They also pre-install the dead wood on the gable end.
The reason I have them hang the sheathing down off the edge of the gable end is to help tie the gable end frame to the wall frame. Otherwise this is a place where the roof frame may not get nailed to the wall frame real well, although installing the dead wood on the ground helps to give a better nailing location.
Basically, as much assembly is done on the ground as is possible. I wish I had a pic of a hip being craned in place. It's quite impressive... I'm easily entertained. I've heard of entire roofs being assembled on the ground - but never actually seen that one.
I'm going to find out about the possibility of "factory sheathing" of the gable ends - maybe today.
upstate NY is the same as you. I can't imagine any other way. It seems that you pointed out the problem, how do you nail the hips on the trusses. The only thing I could think of is the might not do many hip roofs. I'm like you, we overhang the ply. on gable trusses to ensure good nailing to top plate. I guess it could work, just different.
Re. Hips.
We dont do very many hips in the Philly area but if we do, there is really nothing to pre-sheath.
MattYour process works well too, so long as everything is prepped prior to lifting.
I do like the overlap by hanging the sheathing down 1 3/8"
The one advantage we have with getting the gables pre-sheathed is much less waste. The truss company can always use the triangular waste, but the field guys usually throw too much of it away.
The other is that since the truss company swings the trusses, they are done when they arrive.
Jeff & Boss:
Checked with my truss guy today. Here is what he said:
"Yea we used to do that a long time ago, but then we stopped because the sheathing would always get all torn up. Of course that was back when everyone used black board (Celotex) for sheathing".
I'm always looking for ways for things to run smoother, save money, and build a better house but I'm not going to reinvent the wheel when the one I have is already round - especially since this is not common practice - I'm not even sure the truss company would do it - he sure didn't offer.
RE: >> The one advantage we have with getting the gables pre-sheathed is much less waste. The truss company can always use the triangular waste, but the field guys usually throw too much of it away. << Very true and I thought of that when it was first brought up.
I remember the black stuff, and how it got messed up. But we did a lot of that too. It might be worth thinking about, or at least asking for a price on it. Not all truss places charge the same amount - There's a lot of room for difference of opinion on how much to charge.
I wish all the mean people, if you want to be mean to each other, just buy a country together and blow each other up. Then we’d have no terrorists left. [Tara Reid]
I don't know Boss. I don't really think it would help my operation and anything that is different than what the framers are used to just causes problems. I'd maybe do it if it weren't for that fact that the deal I have with my framers is that they supply the crane. If I were supplying the crane and wanted house top delivery maybe, but I think it would just be a scheduling hassle and end up costing me a little more money. I can't see any benefit vs the way we do things now. If it was common practice or at least a little more heard of I'd be more than likely to jump on the band wagon - it just dosen't fit...
Maybe it would put things a little more in perspective if I told you that it's been several years since I built a house that they couldn't frame in maybe 7 days max (excluding punch-out). Most are 4 to 5. They show up with sometimes as many as 12 guys and things happen real fast.
Yep Matt.
Every local is different. I started in Raleigh and Cary, then went to Delaware, Then New Jersey, then Pennsylvania.
Everyone starts with excavation and footings but from there it could really vary from local to local and I learned very quickly that if I wanted to be successful as a builder, I needed to adapt to the local habits so long as my specifications were being met.
I am impressed that you took it to your truss guy.
That is more than most people would do. In fact, I still see guys in this market not getting sheathed gables, but thats ok by me too.
>> I started in Raleigh and Cary, then went to Delaware, Then New Jersey, then Pennsylvania. <<
How long has it been since you've been in Raleigh/Cary and what area of south PA are you in?
I was in Raleigh area in 1989.
Now I am on the western suburbs of Philadelphia. Between Philadelphia and Lancaster County and will take jobs in Delaware, South Jersey and SE PA.
By the way, if you fix flat roof, fix it one time with Rubber!!!!
Dont use torch down. Rubber is easy and lasts long time!!
Thanks Jeff,
and even more important if you are in NCC. As of 2008, any unregistered contractors can get huge fines!!!
Interesting, That's the first I've heard of it. I'm not surprised though, this area ( North Wilmington ) is ripe with shady operators.
I have done my share of shingle roofs but don't know very much about flat roof materials.
I thought torch down was a rubber roof?
Care to share some details? Or maybe a link??
I'd like to be able to have an intelligent conversation about my options..
I know a guy ( DP Contracting ) who I trust and does good work. Once I get my ducks in a row I'll call him.
Do you mean DDP? Yep, Paul knows his stuff.(Obviously I know them) Torch down is asphalt. Rubber gets glued down with a "special" glue. Special reads contact cement.
There is an older article in FHB on it you could search or just search for Rubber roof membranes online.
Triumph is one manufacturer, but all the big guys have a system I believe. (Certainteed, etc)
Depending on local supplier, each one carries a different manufacturer so it is up to you to pick supplier and manufacturer.
If you are North Wilmington, I know DL Truss will ship to you. I am right around the corner in Chadds Ford. (Behind the Ford Dealer on one of the back roads)Let me know what type of reverrals you want and I can tell you who to call.
[email protected] is my email address.
Thanks Jeff,
I'll hold on to that address and give you a shout when I figure out what direction I'm going with this project.
The guy I'm talking about is Dave Pyle form DP contracting. Heard of him?
Bill
No Bill
Dont know him. I know DDP which is a fairly large Commercial and residential roofer out of chester county.
Porter Truss Company off Rte 40. Porter Road.
Builders First Source in Northeast, MD.
Jim